we recently purchased 3 white spruce trees from a nursery,they used a tree spade to dig, deliver and replant the trees. I need to know what I should and shouldn't do to assure the longevity of these trees. They are approx. 8ft tall and were planted approx 11-05-07, I notice some browning of the interior needles already on one of the trees. Is this a bad sign. Please I need your hrlp, I do not want to loose these beautiful trees

Greetings Timothy,

The most important thing to realize in regards to recently transplanted trees is that the tree's original root mass has been significantly reduced during the transplanting process. This of course can create problems down the road unless proper care is taken during the first 2-3 years to ensure tree vigor and renewed root development. The subtle needle browning you notice is merely evidence of "transplant shock", due to the reduction of the tree's original root system.

Probably the two most important post-planting maintenance suggestions is to monitor soil moisture around the tree (avoid too much and too little soil moisture) and to use mulch "near" the base of the transplanted tree.

There are a great deal of university publications on the Web to assist you in the implementation of post-planting tree care:

http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/spfiles/Sp574.pdf

http://www.clemson.edu/extfor/publications/forlf17/index.htm