Expert: Jim Hyland - 5/5/2005

Question
I just bought eight 10 to 12 foot tall blue spruce.  They were delivered bare root!  I had no idea the tree planter was using this method of transplanting.  How do I take  care of these trees? Watering ect.
I live in northern michigan they wee planted  the middle of april. I'm clueless.
Thank you.  

Answer
Mulch around them with a good mulch about 4 inches thick and out to about 2 feet around the tree. Water about an inch of water every third day for about a couple of weeks and then extend the interval daily until watering each week. No need to water when you get a inch or so of raain fall, To determine an inch put a pan down under the sprink;ler system and water until the pan has 1 inch of water in it. The bare root system is not the problem usually the hole that the tree is planted in is too small. Should be about twice the size of the root area and half again as deep. I would fertilize next spring with 13-13-13 spread lightly over the root area and watered in.