How to Plant Arborvitae & Holly Together
- 1). Dig an experimental hole in the area of your future evergreen border. Fill the hole with water and time how long it takes to drain. Hollies and arborvitae aren't overly fussy about soil conditions, but they do need well-drained earth that will retain moisture. If your hole still has water in it after an hour, it isn't draining properly. If the water immediately sinks into the ground, on the other hand, it won't retain the moisture the evergreen roots need.
- 2). Rototill the future evergreen border and add garden amendments if the soil needs improvement. Organic material such as compost or peat moss will improve the texture of both clay and sandy soils. For extremely waterlogged soils, add enough mixed compost and topsoil to make a raised berm 1 to 2 feet high.
- 3). Check the pots or root balls in which the evergreens have been growing. If the soil is dry -- more likely with mail-order plants than those purchased locally -- soak the affected plants in a large bucket of water prior to planting.
- 4). Place the trees on top of the ground to get a sense of desired spacing and placement. If the arborvitae variety is quite a bit bigger than the holly, placing two holly plants for every one arborvitae creates a visual balance. Plan one staggered row for similar-sized plantings and two rows if you have large arborvitae backing a row of medium-height holly.
- 5). Mark the proposed site of each tree with stakes or garden lime and remove the plants to a shady location until planting time.
- 6). Dig holes about twice as wide as each tree's root system and a few inches deeper. Measuring the height from the bottom of the container or burlap ball to where the trunk meets the soil in the container or burlap will give you the best idea of hole depth. If you prefer one orderly row of mixed arborvitae and holly, dig a straight trench using the dimensions of the largest container or root ball as your guide.
- 7). Poke holes in the sides of the holes or the trench to loosen soil for future plant growth.
- 8). Remove plants from the containers or burlap and gently lower them into the planting hole.
- 9). Hold the trunk straight as you or a partner back-fill the hole with garden soil.
- 10
Water the evergreen border thoroughly. - 11
Lay down a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch materials, such as wood chips or pine needles. Mulch keeps the garden soil moist while suppressing weeds.
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