If you love evergreen trees but also appreciate colorful fall foliage, consider the larch.
Most larch trees are tall, 50 to 80 feet, with widespread canopies.
They are more suitable for open landscapes, such as parks, which provide room to grow.
If you have the space, this tree is particularly striking when planted in groups of three.
Closely planted specimens eventually grow together, which makes their fall needle drop quite dramatic.
Larches can also be grown in rows as windbreaks.
Place the tree in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.
Backfill the hole with the original soil and tamp it down.
Water the newly planted tree well until the base around it is soaked.
Continue watering the tree regularly to keep the soil evenly moist.
The spacing of the trees depends on the variety and the landscaping purpose.
European larches, grown as windbreaks, are planted at least 20 feet apart in rows.
Soil and Water
Larch trees prefer moist or boggy soil with a pH between 5.0 and 7.4.
They dont do well in soil with a high pH.
If the planting location is naturally dry, water the tree often to keep the soil moist.
Adding a layer oforganic mulchhelps to retain soil moisture.
Temperature and Humidity
Larch thrives in areas with cool summers and cold winters down to Zone 2.
If your climate is hot and humid, your location is not suitable for planting a larch.
If fertilized in the first two years, a newly planted tree can suffer from fertilizer burn.
Scattering a thin layer of compost around the tree every spring is optional.
Pruning to shape the tree or control its size should be done in the winter during dormancy.
Raking and disposing of fallen needles is important to prevent the disease from spreading.
Serious pests include larch casebearer, a tiny insect that mines the needles, and larch sawfly.
Like with all pests, double-check to identify the pest before treating it with pesticides.
It puts on an amazing autumn show when the needles turn bright gold.
Zones 2-6
Tamarack
Larix laricinais a large tree native to North America.
It features bright green needles that turn gold in autumn.
It grows 75 feet tall and 30 feet wide.
The branches grow in irregular patterns giving the plant a distinctive shape and turning golden yellow in the fall.
It grows 12 feet tall and wide.
Zones 2-6
Weeping Larch
The weeping larch (Larix deciduaPendula) forms an irregular, horizontal crown.
Because its branches all hang down, it will only grow as tall as you support it.
If not staked, it will cover the ground.
It can eventually spread some 30 feet.
Larch prefers climates with cool summers and cold winters so Zone 7 is not suitable for growing larch.
If your climate is not hospitable to larch, try other deciduous conifers such asdawn redwoodor bald cypress.
