When a new plant comes into your own garden, you want to be sure that you're not doing anything wrong. Especially when planting lays the decisive foundation for a long life. We show what needs to be taken into account in this step.
How do you plant a Douglas fir correctly?
To plant a Douglas fir, get a strong seedling, choose a sunny to partially shaded location with well-drained, nutrient-rich soil and ideally plant it in spring. After planting, the Douglas fir needs sufficient water, especially in the first 14 days.
Get a strong seedling
You can grow a Douglas fir yourself from seeds, but this is time-consuming, complicated and not always successful. It is much easier to buy a seedling commercially.
- Buy Douglas fir in a nursery (€34.00 on Amazon) or garden center
- Online shops also offer seedlings
The price for the seedling depends, among other things, on the size. The larger and older the plant, the more expensive it is sold.
The ideal planting time
The ideal planting time for bare-root trees is from October to April. Seedlings that come in a container can be planted all year round. But here too, spring should be chosen as the planting season if possible.
The optimal location
The Douglas fir requires a sunny to partially shaded standard, which is best protected from the wind. The soil should be slightly moist, well-drained and rich in nutrients.
Tip
Since the Douglas fir forms a well-branched, deep root system, you don't have to do without it even if the soil is dry.
Planting instructions
- Dig a sufficiently large planting hole that is twice the diameter of the ball.
- You should loosen up loamy and clayey soil with a little sand and, if necessary, create a drainage layer made of coarse-grained material.
- Place the young tree in the planting hole and fill the gaps with the excavated material.
- Tread the earth.
- Rake a watering border around the seedling.
Care after planting
Immediately after planting, the young tree needs plenty of water. Water it daily for the first 14 days and dose the amount of water depending on the prevailing weather.
Young Douglas firs also need to be supplied with water in winter and spring. Otherwise, frost combined with drought can cause damage.
Douglas fir as a hedge
The considerable size that a Douglas fir can reach over the course of its life makes it rather unsuitable for the home garden in the long term.
When it comes to planting hedges, it becomes even more problematic. The rapid growth of Douglas fir requires extensive pruning if the hedge is to retain its shape.
Tip
Serbian spruce is an evergreen alternative for the hedge. The editing effort is kept within limits.
