Cold-Hardy Winter Interest Kit

Planting & Care

1. Planting: 

• Fat Albert Spruce: Select an area with full to partial sunlight and well-drained soil. When planting, dig a hole for each tree that is three times as wide as the root ball but just as deep. You don’t need to add anything to the planting hole. After removing the tree from its container, work your fingers through the roots to loosen them. Place the tree, fill in around the tree with the same soil you took out when initially digging the hole. Finally, tamp down as you fill to cut back on any air pockets from forming, water the tree, then mulch to conserve moisture.
• Red Twig Dogwood: In terms of sunlight requirements, Red Twigs will tolerate partial shade, but their signature red bark will be brightest if they are planted in full sun (6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily) and well-drained soil. Dig your planting hole twice the width of the root ball and just as deeply enough so that it’s level with the surrounding area. Remove the plant from the container by gently tapping on the ground and easing the plant out of the container. Place the shrub in the planting hole and backfill with your blend of native and gardening soil and gently tap down to secure the plant. Water the planting site to settle the soil then mulch to retain soil moisture.
• Red Rhododendron: Select an area with full to partial sun (4 to 6 hours of sunlight daily) and well-drained soil. From there, dig a hole large enough to accommodate your shrub’s root ball, place your shrub, and backfill the soil.
• Titan Boxwood: Pick a location where your Titan will receive full or partial sunlight (4 to 8 hours of sunlight per day). If you live in a very hot climate, they will do best with some afternoon shade and well-drained soil. Dig a hole the same depth as the root ball and twice as wide. Place the Boxwood upright into the hole ensuring it is straight and begin to back fill the hole, watering every couple inches to prevent air pockets from forming. Finally, to help retain moisture in the soil and deter weed growth, apply a 2- to 3-inch deep layer of mulch around the base of the Boxwood, extending 12 inches past the foliage.

2. Watering: 

• Fat Albert Spruce: Spruce trees prefer evenly moist, well-draining soil, but can tolerate some drought once established. Water your Colorado Spruce Tree deeply and regularly each week, more often in hot or dry climates. Not sure when to water? Check the soil 2 inches down and water when dry to the touch.
• Red Twig Dogwood: Create a mulch barrier around the tree’s trunk at planting. Keep the mulch five or six inches away from the trunk itself to help the tree retain water. Water the Red Twig thoroughly once or twice weekly – if you’re not sure when to water, simply check the surrounding soil about 2 or 3 inches down. If the soil is dry here, it’s time to water.
• Red Rhododendron: You should water when the surface soil dries about 1 to 3 inches down. Once your Red is established, rainfall should suffice, but you’ll want to water your young shrubs about once or twice weekly.
• Titan Boxwood: Water the Titan deeply to ensure the roots are getting adequate moisture (generally one or two waterings per week will suffice). Once it has established in your garden, it will need a weekly watering during periods of drought or extreme heat.

3. Pruning: 

• Fat Albert Spruce: Pruning isn’t necessary for this naturally graceful grower, although you can prune to remove dead or damaged branches and shape as needed.
• Red Rhododendron: Shear for shaping purposes in fall or early winter. You can remove dead and broken branches at any time of the year.
• Titan Boxwood: Titan Boxwoods are slow growers, so if left unpruned, they will grow into neat tufts of green naturally. However, they can be pruned into any shape – pruning should be done after the last frost for the season so that no new growth is damaged by frost.

4. Fertilizing: 

• Fat Albert Spruce: Your Colorado Blue Spruce should not need any extra fertilizer, but you can feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.
• Red Rhododendron: Feed with a well-balanced fertilizer after your shrub’s blooms have dropped.
• Titan Boxwood: Apply a balanced shrub fertilizer formula such as 10-10-10 in spring, before new growth emerges for your Titan.