They can be found covering most of the Rocky Mountains and are hearty survivors. Last winter in our back yard we lost 6 large branches from snow load from our 20 year old, approx. Ponderosa pine trees (Pinus ponderosa) are stately trees that prefer locations on the edge of forests and wide-open spaces. Match your irrigation schedule to the tree and its growing conditions. Backfill around the edges with soil. Ponderosa Pine is not the best choice for a landscape tree. However, ponderosa pines survive transplant best when dug up at one to two years of age with a height of 6 to 12 inches, since the root system is still small at that age and easy to remove from the ground. A typical cultivated ponderosa pine grows to around 60 feet tall with a branch spread of about 25 feet (7.6 m.). Measure the diameter of the pine's trunk to determine the minimum rootball size. Ponderosa pine also is grown as a bonsai subject, with special consideration given in choice of potting mix and watering because of its need for good drainage. Run a hose at the base of the sapling for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the soil feels wet at a depth of 5 inches. To conserve soil moisture and minimize supplemental watering, mulch the ponderosa pine for two feet out past the drip line of the tree. Once a good root system is in place, established trees can grow 12 to 24 inches a year. Water the dripline of the tree until water begins to stand or run off and move to another tree. Chaney also writes poetry, which has appears in "Woman's World" magazine and elsewhere. Despite the drought tolerance of these trees, pinyon pine tree growing works best with some irrigation. Dig the wild pine up. It is a tall tree with very long needles in clusters of three. They also develop a wide spreading root system closer to the soil surface. Ponderosa pine can grow in both alkaline and acid soils -- pH 4.9 to pH 9.1 -- and on a wide variety of soil textures and types. Water trees as needed, even in winter. Contact your local utilities company before digging deeper than 12 inches, to determine the location of any buried lines. Ponderosa pine grows best in well-drained moist soil but can adapt to a wide variety of soil types. The Ponderosa Pine is native to western North-America and the Rocky Mountains. Evenly spaced moisture throughout the year helps to achieve optimal growth. Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellow-pine, or filipinus pine is a very large pine tree species of variable habitat native to mountainous regions of western North America.It is the most widely distributed pine species in North America. A certified arborist can help to diagnose issues and recommend cultural care options or treatments that may help the tree through a stressful time. Dig a planting hole measuring two to three times the width of the rootball. Prepare the Tree. Too much of anything is bad, even when it comes to watering your trees, which is why it's important to know if your pine tree (Pinus spp.) Choose a site with excellent drainage and a soil pH between 5.0 and 7.0. Water to a depth of 3 inches every 10 to 15 days until the autumn rains arrive. If you're transplanting multiple trees, do so one at a time, starting with this step. They transplant reliably well and will steadily establish a productive root system if dug up in early autumn and kept well-watered until the rains arrive. This allows proper root development. Ponderosa pines growing on clay soils are more prone to waterlogging problems because of poor drainage. The young plants send out deep tap roots -- up to 20 to 30 inches long -- which help anchor them and enable them to use deeper soil moisture. Carefully pull the shovel's handle back toward your chest to pry the roots free from the surrounding soil. For instance, dig down 12 inches for a 6-inch-tall sapling and 24 inches for a 12-inch-tall sapling. The needles are quite long, up to 8 inches. Under landscaping conditions, it can eventually grow to 60-100 feet tall and 25-30 feet wide. Space trees at least 20 feet apart and chose a location in full sun. Cathryn Chaney has worked as a gardening writer since 2002. Native to the American West, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa, U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3-7) makes a pyramidal-shaped evergreen when young. Cut back any overhanging shrubbery to limit the amount of shade at the site. With their reddish bark and dark green needles, ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa) add year-round ornamental value to landscaping within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 10. Tamp the soil lightly with your foot to remove any trapped air. However, the amount of water a tree can harvest from the soil depends on how well the roots grow. Ponderosa pine develops more roots in coarse- or medium-textured soils, rather than finer-textured clay soils. Water your transplanted ponderosa pines with about 5 to 7 gallons of water per tree after planting. After 10 to 30 minutes go back to that tree and the soil should be able to take water at a faster rate. Cones are oval, 3 to 6 inches long and 2 to 4 inches in diameter, with outwardly curved Chaney graduated from the University of Arizona in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Evenly spaced moisture throughout the year helps to achieve optimal growth. Sunset Magazine Plant Finder: Pinus Ponderosa, U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Guide: Ponderosa Pine, North Dakota State University Extension Service: Transplanting Trees and Shrubs, How to Transplant Washington Hawthorn Trees. It is often used in windbreaks and shelter planting. Make it no deeper than the rootball. The hardy tree also tolerates drought. Once a good root system is in place, established trees can grow 12 to 24 inches a year. Supplement natural precipitation from May through the fall months to keep the soil moist but not overly wet. Ponderosa Pine Identification: Needles are 5 to 10 inches long and in bundles of three, forming tufts at the end of each branch. If you want a general rule of thumb for watering, irrigate twice a month in summer and once a month in other seasons. Her horticultural experience working in the nursery industry informs her garden articles, especially those dealing with arid landscaping and drought-tolerant gardening. Water the ponderosa pine sapling deeply two days before digging it up to soften the soil and hydrate the roots. Samantha McMullen began writing professionally in 2001. We live in a residential development in Lakewood about 2 miles east of the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. It is drought-tolerant, once established, but water requirements vary according to the age of the plant, the soil, exposure, and local climate conditions.