Christmas Tree

Light Providing a fraser fir with proper light conditions will ensure it grows vigorously and will help it develop healthy foliage as it matures. Fraser firs adapt to light conditions, preferring full sun to part shade. During warm summer, when the fir might experience intense direct sun providing it with some afternoon shade will improve the tree's vigor. Soil Giving your fraser fir good soil to call home will increase its chances of performing well for years. The species likes moist, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH, rich in organics. The most important thing to remember about the fraser fir, and many species in the family Pinaceae, is the growth habit of their roots. The fraser fir has very shallow roots that do not like to compete for nutrients or space. Keeping the soil under your tree's dripline free of plants that might take nutrients and moisture away from the tree is vital to its success. Water Providing a fraser fir with adequate irrigation is important throughout your time caring for the plant. When first planted, the tree will do best with a watering plan that does not allow the soil under the newly planted fir to dry completely while not being soaked. Keeping the plant hydrated like this is very weather dependent, and you may find yourself watering every few days in extremely hot weather, especially if your tree is in full sun. In cooler, damp weather, you may need to water just once a week; let the soil be your guide. Continue watering the young tree consistently like this for its first growing season while it establishes a strong and healthy root system. For the first two or three growing seasons, if you experience droughts or long periods of very hot weather, adding supplemental irrigation back into the mix is a good idea. Temperature and Humidity Looking at where the fraser fir grows immediately tells you that this tree does not like hot weather. The ideal climate for this species resembles its native habitat, with cool, damp, foggy mountainsides surrounded by other trees. While you might not live on a mountainside, you can do your best to recreate this environment by planting the fraser fir in an environment that it finds hospitable. Fertilizer If planted in good conditions and provided with enough water and sun a healthy fraser fir should not require any supplemental fertilizer. Over feeding the tree can create weak wood and cause the tree to grow foliage at a rate that its shallow root system cannot support, creating the perfect opportunity for tree damage after storms.