Looking to add a stunning Douglas fir to your backyard? If you want to see that beautiful evergreen skyline in your garden, your best bet is to start with saplings. Trying to grow these guys from seed can be a real headache with pretty low success rates, so let’s stick to the pros. Here’s everything you need to know about picking out and planting Douglas fir saplings.
When to Buy Your Douglas Fir Saplings
Timing is everything when it comes to planting! Depending on how the sapling was grown, you’ll want to hit the garden center at specific times of the year. You can find these trees at local nurseries, specialty garden shops, or even order them online.
Here’s the breakdown on when to buy:
- Ideally, buy them right before you’re ready to get them in the ground.
- Potted/Container trees: You can plant these pretty much any time of year.
- Bare-root saplings: These are usually available between October and April.
Choosing the Right Size
Douglas fir saplings come in all sorts of sizes. Just keep in mind: the older the Douglas fir, the higher the price tag. You’re paying for the years of care, watering, and pruning the nursery put in. But don’t worry if your sapling looks a little small at first! These trees are famous for their growth spurts. Once they’re settled in the right spot, they’ll be reaching for the clouds before you know it.
Here’s what you’ll typically find:
- 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm): Usually 1 to 2 years old.
- Up to 30 inches (80 cm): Usually 3 to 4 years old.
- 6 feet (2 meters) and up: These are the “grown-ups” of the nursery.
Price-wise, small saplings are a total bargain, often starting around $3 to $5 each. On the flip side, if you want an instant 6-foot tree, you might be looking at a triple-digit investment. Honestly, because the Douglas fir growth rate is so impressive, you usually don’t need to splurge on a huge tree. Just find a sunny spot, have a little patience, and watch it take off! Just a heads-up: if you’re hoping for seeds, you’ll have to wait a bit—the tree won’t start producing them until it’s at least 15 years old.
