Gardening FAQ & Plant Care Tips in Westminster, MA
Evergreen plants are popular with homeowners in Westminster, MA, and the surrounding areas. They provide year-round privacy, serve as windbreaks, prevent soil erosion, and enhance the aesthetic appeal of their properties. The experts at AJ's Evergreen Nursery have answers to frequently asked questions that can help you learn more about caring for evergreen plants.
How do you take care of evergreen plants?
The amount of plant care needed for evergreens may vary depending on the type of plant, the location, and the soil conditions. When you first plant your tree or shrub, water is key. Flood the plant to get all the air out from around the roots. (Spring/Summer Planting) Flood with water weekly for the first 6 months or when the top 2 inches of soil dry out. If you are planting in the Fall, you must follow the same weekly schedule as in spring and summer, but when the ground freezes, switch to monthly watering through winter. Pick a day that is above freezing and flood the plants. This will allow the plants to recharge their foliage for the next cold snap preventing winter burn. The Deep watering creates deeper roots. Once planted in the right conditions and the roots get established, evergreens are relatively low-maintenance and generally don't need much care. A top dressing of granular fertilizer in spring is also a good choice to get your plants fully established and growing well year after year.
What challenges do evergreen plants face?
Patience is key for the homeowner looking to create a privacy screen or a full hedge with evergreen plants. All varieties, besides a few exceptions, grow slowly and may take longer than expected. However, it's well worth the wait, as evergreens keep their foliage all year round, maintaining a privacy screen and deadening sound throughout the winter months.
How often should evergreens be watered?
Evergreen shrubs and trees need weekly waterings for spring and summer plantings and monthly waterings in winter after a fall planting, to grow, spread, and establish their root systems when newly planted. The Soil Moist Paks Plus can help reduce watering efforts by 50% once the plants are established. These biodegradable packets can be placed in the planting hole at the root zone to provide water directly to the developing roots for several seasons.
How to choose a plant at a nursery?
Asking the knowledgeable staff at the nursery will ensure that you get the right evergreen plants for your specific growing conditions and landscape design plans. They can tell you which plants provide the best value for your sunlight requirements, soil conditions, and desired design or aesthetic goals.
How can I get a hedge to "fill in" quicker?
Although most evergreens grow at a moderate pace(18-24"/yr), some varieties grow faster and will help fill in your hedge quickly. Proper planting in the correct soil conditions, regular watering and mulching, and effective pruning early in their lives will result in a beautiful hedge sooner rather than later.
What are the best evergreen varieties for Westminster, MA?
If you're looking for privacy trees, false cypress, arborvitaes, spruces, dwarf, or globe shrubs, AJ's Evergreen Nursery offers the varieties best suited for the climate and soil conditions in Westminster, MA, and surrounding areas. From "Blue Fuzzy Dwarf" False Cypress shrubs to Northern White Cedar Arborvitae privacy trees and the many cultivars of (thuja occidentalis), will thrive in the areas in and surrounding Westminster.
How do the USDA frost zones impact evergreen growth?
Because evergreens keep their foliage year-round, they are more susceptible to moisture loss in cold, dry winters. This is especially true in colder frost zones, where the ground freezes, preventing water from moving up the tree to the foliage. Moisture loss can result in damaged foliage, stunted plant growth, or even death. If your plants are rated for your zone or colder, typically, winter burn is not an issue, and the winter waterings discussed in the previous FAQ above will prevent the winter burn issue, especially on newly fall-planted evergreens.
How are the plants packed for shipping?
We take great care in our packing procedures to ensure your plants are protected during transit. First, we move the plants to a covered area to allow the foliage to dry properly. Each fabric pot is then shrink-wrapped, preventing any soil loss. Finally, the plants are securely placed in shipping boxes and zip-tied in place to minimize movement—because we never know who might be handling the package!
What should I do if my plants arrive damaged?
If your plants do sustain any damage during shipping, please take as many pictures as you can and email them to us as soon as possible. This will help us assess the situation quickly and work on an appropriate resolution.
Will my plants be watered before shipping?
Yes! We take special care to ensure that your plants are in optimal condition before they leave our nursery. They are hydrated and prepared for their journey, giving them the best chance to thrive even after being shipped.
How can I track my order?
Once your order has shipped, we will provide you with a tracking number via email. You can use this number to monitor your package's progress until it arrives at your doorstep.
Visit AJ's Evergreen Nursery for More Information
The evergreen specialists at AJ's Evergreen Nursery can address any questions or concerns about caring for the evergreen plants you currently have or the evergreen shrubs or trees you're planning for aesthetic or practical purposes. Contact us or visit the nursery for guidance and ideas for your evergreen landscape.
Image Credit/Sutterstock:svetlaya_strana_omsk