- Obtain a vigorous seedling
- The ideal planting time
- The optimal location
- planting guide
- Post-planting care
- Douglas fir as a hedge
If a new plant comes into your own garden, you want to be sure that you are not doing anything wrong. Especially when the decisive foundation stone for a long life is laid with the planting. We show what needs to be considered in this step.
Douglas firs are best planted from October to April
Obtain a vigorous seedling
You can grow a Douglas fir yourself from seed, but this is tedious, cumbersome and not always successful. It is much easier to buy a seedling in stores.
- Buy Douglas fir from a nursery or garden center
- online shops also offer seedlings
The price of the seedling depends, among other things, on the size. The bigger and older the plant is, the more expensive it is sold.
The ideal planting time
The ideal planting time for bare-root trees is the period from October to April. Seedlings delivered in a container can be planted all year round. But here, too, spring should be chosen as the planting test if possible.
The optimal location
The Douglas fir requires a sunny to partially shaded standard, which is also best sheltered from the wind. The soil should be slightly moist, well-drained and nutrient-rich.
tips
Since the Douglas fir forms a well-branched root system that goes deep, you don't have to do without it even if the soil is dry.
planting guide
- Dig a sufficiently large planting hole that is twice the diameter of the root ball.
- You should loosen up a loamy and clayey soil with some sand and, if necessary, create a drainage layer of coarse-grained material.
- Place the young tree in the planting hole and fill in the gaps with the excavation.
- Tread the earth.
- Rake a watering rim around the seedling.
Post-planting care
Immediately after planting, the young tree needs plenty of water. Water it daily for the first 14 days and adjust the amount of water depending on the prevailing weather.
Incidentally, young Douglas firs must also be supplied with water in winter and spring. Otherwise, frost combined with drought can damage them.
Douglas fir as a hedge
The considerable size that a Douglas fir can reach in the course of its life makes it rather unsuitable for the home garden in the long run.
When it comes to hedge planting, it becomes even more problematic. The rapid growth of the Douglas fir requires extensive pruning if the hedge is to keep its shape.
tips
The Serbian spruce is an evergreen alternative for the hedge. The editing effort is kept within limits.