Introduction to HorticultureIntroduction to Horticulture

Plant: Scotch PinePlant: Scotch Pine

Term: MonoeciousTerm: Monoecious

Scotch Pine

• Plant type: Evergreen Tree • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3a to 7a • Height: 45 to 60ft Spread: 25 to 35 ft • Exposure: full sun • Leaf Color: Green • Growth Rate: slow • Form: Oval, Pyramidal • Landscape Uses: Christmas tree, Specimen • Has excellent needle retention and good keepability. It

resists drying and if permitted to become dry does not drop its needles

• Very prickly

Monoecious:

• Has male and female flowers (cones) on the same plant.

Pine Flowers (Cones)

• Female cone • Male cone

Christmas Tree Production

• 8 – 12 years to maturity

• Grow best on pasture or cleared land than previously forested land

• Plant in early march as soon as ground has thawed

• Trees planted at least 6’ apart

• Seedlings (4 – 6”) – cost ~ $1.50 each

1st few years

• Weed control most important– No weeds touching lower branches– Compete for soil moisture and nutrients– Spray herbicides in early fall & early spring– Mow between rows 3 – 4 times per year

• Firs & spruces require fertilizer (mostly N) in winter or early spring

• Pines don’t require fertilizer

Shearing

• Beginning in the 3rd year.• Trees need to be shaped annually

– Usually in late May or early June

• Always groom to a single point– Never cut the main stem

• Some have natural pyramid shape– Some don’t

• Roughly 16 hours labor to shear 1 acre or mature trees

Tree planting planning

• There is an ¼ acre in the field behind the hort bldg. (200 ft x 50 ft)

• You can plant a tree every 6 – 8’

• How many trees can you plant there?

• How much would it cost to plant if you could plant 50 trees for $75?

• How much would you make in 10 years if you sold them for $40.

Christmas Tree Sources

• 250 trees can fit in the area behind the greenhouse

• Assuming an average 10 yr rotation• 25 trees per year• Increase ~20% for death or poorly formed trees

= 30 trees• 6 most popular trees:

– Douglas Fir, Fraser fir, White pine, Blue Spruce, Scotch pine, Balsam fir

• Pick a species, go shopping on-line

Tree shopping

• Find prices from three different sources– Include shipping– Make sure they will ship 50 or fewer trees

• Find recommended planting dates for zone 7a.

Scotch Pine

• 1-

• 2-

• 3-

• Planting

Fraser Fir

• 1-

• 2-

• 3

• Recommendations for planting

Douglas Fir

• 1

• 2

• 3

• Recommendations for planting

Balsam Fir

• 1

• 2

• 3

• Recommendations for planting

Blue Spruce

• 1-

• 2-

• 3-

• Recommendations for planting

White Pine

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• 3-

• Recommendations for planting

Environmentally Friendly

• Which is better for the environment?

• Cut tree

• Artificial tree

Debate