How to care for young saplings?

8 years ago

I have two saplings that appeared in my yard last fall without planting. After winter, one of them looks almost dead at its top while remaining green and healthy at its base; it is somewhat hidden by a large stone. The other appears somewhat more healthy but looks like it will need help to survive. Luckily spring is here and the weather is warmer. I am wondering what I can do to help these young saplings survive? Should I trim the top of the first tree, in hopes that more sunlight will reach its base? Should I provide some sort of food and water? I am not certain what type of trees they are but they look like what I would call evergreens or pine trees (conifers, perhaps?).

Matt

Featured Answer

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Too blurry to tell for certain what they are, but one thing is certain, as seedling conifers they will get much too large for that spot and should be moved to an area with ample room. If you get sharper pix we can ID them. Once moved, just provide proper watering for now.

BTW, those were there longer than just last year.

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
where are you ....

perhaps you are too soon in the spring.. to be sure they have come out of dormancy ....

do NOT top the tree ... especially if they are conifers ...

i would suggest that self sown trees dont need much of anything in the way of fert ... water would only be an issue if you have had drought all winter ... wherever you are l...

i would also be leery of saving or keeping over aggressively seeding trees.. that have seeded all over your yard ....

to go much further.. we would need to ID the trees .... use the camera/photo icon below the box you type in.. to add pix to your post ... if deciduous ... most likely it would be best to wait until they leaf out ...

ken
mattarmshaw
Original Author
8 years ago
I live in southern Connecticut. I have provided pictures:
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edlincoln
8 years ago
Don't cut off the top at the end of the winter. At the very least wait until after a summer rainfall...see if they "bounce back".

Only things you really need to do is protect them from lawnmowers and critters. (I like upside down wastebaskets from a dollar store staked to the ground for that purpose), remove weeds that compete with them, and maybe water them during the worst droughts.

I'd guess the second one is an Eastern Red Cedar maybe?
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
if those were in my MI yard .... they would be the horrible reseeder.. Juniperus virginiana .... aka what ed said ...

it doesnt quite fit in the technical term of 'invasive' ... but it seeds like a bunch of rabbits .... and get this.. though i consider it a weed ... its native down south.. where it is the basis of the cedar post/mulch/chips business ...

and i currently have a couple hundred rogue seedlings .... i hate this plant with the passion of a million burning suns.. hows that for a mixed metaphor ... lol ....

ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=juniperus+viginiann&t=ffcm&ia=about
mattarmshaw
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Just an update, they both look healthy. I haven't seen any 'seeding' and they both appear to be growing into some sort of conifer - you might know what they will look like, I am hoping something tall - we have other large conifers in the yard so I would have to believe they came from there. Thanks for the help.