did you know?

A quick way to tell the difference between a fir and a spruce is to to grab a branch as if shaking a hand. If the leaves are sharp, stiff, and somewhat painful to the touch, it is a spruce. If the leaves are soft, it is a fir.

general maintenance:

Prune damaged and weak stems or branches.

pests/diseases:

Firs are relatively carefree.

how to sow/plant:

Choose a sunny to partly sunny site with well-drained soil, making sure there is enough room for the tree to reach its mature height and spread. In early spring or late fall, dig a hole twice as wide as container or root ball. Set plant at same depth or slightly higher than it was in pot, or if balled, level soil with top of root ball. Fill hole around plant with soil and mound soil to form a 2-inch-high ridge around perimeter of hole to act as a catchbasin. If plant is balled in synthetic fabric, remove carefully before backfilling. Cotton or all-natural burlap may be left around root ball and then peeled back once plant is set in hole. Water thoroughly, filling the basin and allowing water to settle several times. Spread 2-inch-layer of mulch around plant.

water and fertilize:

Maintain uniform soil moisture for the first season. Be sure the soil is moist before the ground freezes in fall. Feed with an all-purpose fertilizer each spring before growth begins, following label directions. Once tree is established, usually by the third year, water only in times of drought

garden hint:

Use a balled and burlapped white fir as your Christmas tree, and plant it outside after the holidays.

features:

• Attractive Cones
• Evergreen
• Native
• Winter Interest

garden uses:

other uses: