[zoso43512]

I have just received Three new trees. Two blue Spruce and a Silver Maple. All are about 2 foot high (includes roots), question is, should I plant them right into the ground now or plant them in a pot and let them mature a little bit (and if so, how long)? Thanks for the time.:)

[Clough]

The following sites may be helpful to you. I hope that they are.

Tree Planting | Backyard Conservation | Features |NRCS

How to Plant Trees at arborday.org

PLANTING TECHNIQUES FOR TREES AND SHRUBS

How to Plant a Tree | Tree Planting | Tree Plant Guide |

[Clough]

Another thing is that it does depend on where you are located and what the climate is.

[labman]

I would plant them now. The smaller the tree, the less it disturbs it to plant it. Planting it in a container and then replanting it later risks breaking the root ball. Trees seldom survive breaking the root ball. If they are bare root, carefully spread the roots out. If they are balled and burlaped, once in the hole, cut any synthetic twine binding it. Natural fibers will rot away, but synthetic ones left around the trunk will strangle the tree as it grows. If the ''burlap'' is synthetic, carefully make a few slits in it just before putting it in the hole.

[zoso43512]

Thank you all for your answers and time. Looks like I need to get them in the ground NOW.

[dMacII]

You're right about planting the trees now. You may want to put a small fence around them if they are being planted in an area where you use a mower. Be sure to plant them far enough apart if you are planting them in permanent locations. They are so small that 5 feet apart seems like a huge distance. I have four evergreens at the edge of my back yard which I grew from little plants like you have. We placed them only 2-3 ft apart and it is way too close.

Where are you planting the silver maple? I recommend you keep it a good 20 ft or more away from any building with a foundation. Down the road it will start dropping branches which you won't want blowing on the roofs of house, garage or shed. And the roots will spread at least as far as the tree's canopy.

As the silver maple grows (it is a pretty fast grower) you will find that it creates a lot of large surface roots. I would plan my landscaping to accommodate the roots, i.e. keep extending out from the trunk the "no grass" zone and plant it with shade loving plants like hostas, astilbes and mulch (I know mulch is not a plant :p ).

I wish you well on getting the trees planted. Watching them grow is fun.

By the way, if you want more trees like those, you can purchase them from the Arbour Day Foundation (10 trees for free!)

[TheSavage]

Direct -- and Grand dad always said --dig a 10$ hole for a 5$ tree -- Savage