Question From: J. SHERBY - East Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Q: I have a potted pine tree that someone put in their garbage since December with no pot. I am going to rescue it and plant in the spring. I am in Central NJ, the ground is frozen solid.Should I do anything special? I have it in a bigger container of miracle gro soil.There is no winter burn, just a tiny bit of curling of the needles at the tips, no yellowing. The root ball looks ok. QUESTION : keep it out in the open? or should I put it into a garage protected from the elements?.We only have a couple of months to go , but we are going to be getting a cold snap with temps in the teens. Tree is about 3 feet tall and looks like its in pretty good shape. HELP PLEASE ?? What's the best thing to do to save this life?
A: It needs sun. Morning sun is best so it does not do a freeze thaw on warmers days. Mulching the surface of the soil with bark chips will also help. It should be protected from drying winds. Keep the soil moist but not sodden. Placing ice cubes on the surface of the soil works well in winter. Hard to say what condition it's in. I would fertilize it when new growth appears at 1/4 the recommended rate. Too much fertilizer will kill the tree. Dark or black pots absorb heat, so choose light or white colored containers. Be prepared to root prune the tree ever two years. Check with your local independent nursery or garden center for more help. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy
