Anyone know about planting trees?

[DudeLebowSKI]

We are trying to build a privacy screen along our back fence with Columnar Aspen trees. Does anybody know how close together I can plant them?

[alma del polvo]

Mature width is 10 feet, so give each tree around 5 feet on each side. Columnar Swedish Aspens need a lot of sunlight and a lot of water. Plant the trees the same depth that they were planted at the nursery and dig the hole at least 3 times wider then the root ball.

[DudeLebowSKI]

Sweet! Thanks man. 10 ft wide? Holy shit. The few I see in my neighbourhood are half that. They must be young still.

[cat in january]

Sorry I am from the right coast and I do not know that species. If I was planting for a privacy screen I would plant a bit closer than the spread-say 7 feet between holes. Good advise on size of the hole. Really work the shovel to loosen up the soil around the hole. Add whatever the nursery advices to improve the soil. You only get one shot at making the planting hole the best you can.

[SPREAD EAGLE]

The advice I am going to give you is HIGHLY UNDERRATED -
Throw a dead fish or two in the hole before you put in the tree. Trees love rotting fish and the nitrogen and other chemicals produced during decomposition add the happiness of plants - I know there is some of this stuff in mulch, etc. , but nothing like a dead fish

happy planting!!!!

[lynchdogger]

Sounds like good advice from others on spacing - how soon do you want them filled in? Sooner - plant them a little closer than mature spread.

Important for best long term survival! What most homeowners don't know is that they need to be planted at the proper depth. Often at the nursery soil is pushed up around the root flare during the spading process. Expose the root flare of the tree before planting and use that as guide for proper planting height.
Otherwise you run into problems down the road with girdling roots! Take a look at this vid to see what problems will come up if not correctly planted.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxkVebO9czk&feature=related"]YouTube- ‪Uncovering the Problems w/ Tyson Woods‬‎[/nomedia]

[DudeLebowSKI]

Thanks guys! Planted 9 Aspens yesterday at 5 ft spacing. The nursery gave us some sort of powdered fungus to rub into the root ball and mix with the fill. Hope they survive!

Thanks