How to transplant a cedar: rules and when you can move to a new place
Gardeners and landscape designers value cedar for its decorative effect and specific forest aroma. A beautiful plant is often grown from a seedling, as it takes more time and special conditions to germinate seeds. Seedlings in general are not demanding for care, but for transplantation it is necessary to properly prepare the place. In gardening, there are several secrets on how to plant and transplant a homemade cedar, as well as a wild tree from the forest.
When to do it
Usually garden plants are recommended to be transplanted in the spring to make it easier for them to adapt. In autumn, it is important to choose a moment when severe frosts have not yet come. The tree must have time to strengthen, then there is a chance that it will take root by spring.
Cedar is resistant to seasonal adaptation difficulties. A coniferous plant can be transplanted at any time of the year.
In the nurseries, they follow the traditional rules and replant the cedar in the spring. The most suitable period is from mid-March to June. If you want to move the seedling in the fall, you should be guided by the weather:
- first frosts;
- lack of precipitation;
- moderately moist soil.
Transplant instructions
The common property of domestic and wild cedars is high frost resistance, exactingness to soil structure and humidity. A common disease of various types of cedar is chlorosis. From lack of light and low air humidity, the needles lose their green color.
In order for a young seedling or an adult tree to take root successfully, you need to choose a suitable place for planting. The following areas are best suited:
- partial shade, rarely sunny;
- windproof;
- with neutral, slightly acidic, loamy soil of loose consistency;
- with good drainage.
Cedar has a fragile trunk and can break in strong winds. The tree needs iron, so calcareous soil poor in this mineral is not suitable for it. Also, the seedling will need space for a branched root system.The trunk circle will require up to three meters in diameter.
When planting cedar, it is important to follow the rules of plant neighborhood. A coniferous tree is not planted next to currants and gooseberries. Fruit bushes become infected with rust from cedar and cause resin cancer in it. Favorable neighbors - irga, honeysuckle, raspberry. It is also important for the well-being of plants to choose the right seedling and prepare the planting hole.
Select planting material
For replanting from the forest, it is better to choose young cedars with a small crown aged 5-6 years. Their height is 1 meter, and the width of the trunk is 2 centimeters. A suitable tree must be dug carefully so as not to damage the roots. They are located close to the soil surface and exceed the crown in diameter. To calculate the safe distance for digging a tree, use the formula: multiply the diameter of the trunk by the number 20.
When choosing a forest tree and a seedling from a nursery, you need to pay attention to the same characteristics:
| Characteristic | Description |
| Root system | Closed |
| Needles | Green |
| Branches | Elastic, without damage and dry bark, with growth buds at the ends |
A tree from the forest must be delivered along with an earthen clod. A seedling should be bought in a container or its roots should be with the ground and wrapped in burlap. A plant with open roots is difficult to transport to the site. Removing an earthen clod can damage the small processes that provide nutrition. A seedling with damaged roots will die.
Soil preparation
When planting cedar, it is important to take into account the flow of groundwater. If the source is located close to the surface, it is necessary to fill the selected place with an earthen rampart 1 meter thick and 3 meters in diameter. The planting hole must be prepared in the center of the embankment.
The procedure for preparing a site for planting cedar:
- the size of the hole is determined by the size of the earthen clod or container: the depth is 10 centimeters more, and the width is 20 centimeters;
- drainage is poured at the bottom of the hole - expanded clay, crushed stone;
- for fertilizer mix an equal amount of sand, peat and humus. Ashes and pine needles are added to the nutrient mixture and spread over the drainage layer in the planting hole.
For spring planting, the hole can be prepared in the fall. During the winter, its walls will become looser, and frost will play the role of a natural disinfectant. In any season, a hole for a tree is prepared two weeks before planting or transplanting to a permanent location.
Boarding process
The forest tree must be dug up to form an earthen ball on the roots. The plant is taken out of the natural soil at a temperature of -5 degrees and transferred to a new place.Cedar from the forest will get for free, you just have to ask permission to dig in the forestry. But the minus of this way to get a coniferous tree is a high risk of damage to the roots and death of the plant.
Planting a purchased seedling:
- carefully remove from container;
- set in hole;
- fill with soil to the level of the root neck and tamp;
- pour plenty of water - 5-10 liters.
When transplanting homemade cedar to another part of the site, before digging, it is necessary to water the soil in the near-stem circle so that the earthen ball becomes denser. Pre-watering will also help free the nursery seedling from the container.
Post transplant care
The transplanted cedar is watered every two days. The tree needs to be fed. After an autumn transplant, it is better to use water-soluble fertilizers so that the roots are fed along with watering. For a cedar transplanted in spring, a mulch is prepared with mixed top dressing.
Potassium is useful for a tree, but an excess of nitrogen is dangerous. To accurately maintain the balance of substances, it is better to use a special mixture for coniferous plants.
Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionA transplanted cedar needs additional nutrition and moisture for two years. In summer, it is recommended to spray the needles with water so that the needles do not lose their color saturation. A container of water next to the trunk will provide humidity during the day.Recommendations for beginners
Replanting cedar is a simple task, but the result is not always pleasing to beginner gardeners. A weather-resistant tree does not like a sudden change of location. The following tips will help you adapt your seedling better:
- place the tree in the cardinal directions as it grew in the old place - the southern part of the trunk should face south, the northern - north. To do this, before digging, you need to navigate the compass on the site and in the forest, and then put marks on the trunk;
- fix the seedling installed in the hole on a peg so that the tree grows evenly. The lopsided cedar can no longer be leveled;
- Sawdust, leaves, peat, straw are suitable for mulch;
- deep digging is not suitable for shallow-rooted cedars. To saturate the earth with oxygen, it is enough to slightly loosen the surface of the near-stem circle.
Cedar is planted at a distance of 5-6 meters from outbuildings and houses. A sign of an accustomed seedling is dark green needles. During the year, the trees grow by 10-15 centimeters. Fruits will appear at the ends of the branches, which will become edible after two years. In the meantime, with proper care, cedar will fill the air with a pleasant woody-resinous aroma.
