How & When to Plant Pine Trees in Texas

1). Select a location for your pine tree. Pine trees prefer full sun and well-drained soil. A hillside is a good place for a pine tree, while a boggy lowland area is not.
2). Conduct a soil test to determine your soil structure and pH. Dig a quart of soil from up to 10 locations around the area where you want to plant your tree. Mix the samples in a plastic bucket and spread them over a sheet of newspaper to dry.
3). Obtain a soil sample bag and soil sampling forms from your nearest Texas A&M county extension service or from the Texas A&M Soil, Water, and Forage Testing Laboratory. You can also obtain soil forms from the Soil, Water, and Forage Testing Laboratory website. Place a cup of dried soil in the bag and seal it closed. Fill out the forms and mail the sample to the Soil, Water, and Forage Testing Laboratory. You can obtain the laboratory's address from their website or from your county extension service. Test results are generally returned within three weeks.
4). Research the characteristics of various pine trees. Select a tree with characteristics that will allow it to thrive in your soil type and USDA hardiness zone. For example, Eldarica pine grows well in alkaline soil, while Virginia pine thrives in acidic soil.
5). Plant your pine tree in fall. Pine trees may be planted any time of the year in Texas, but the trees will thrive best if planted in fall.
6). Dig a planting hole that is twice as wide as the pine tree's root ball, but no deeper. Pines have a tap root that extends directly downward, so the hole will be narrow and deep.
7). Place the root ball of the pine into the planting hole. Do not allow the roots of a pine to bend into a J-shape. This can kill a pine tree.
8). Fill in around the pine tree's root ball with dirt. When you have filled in the hole two thirds of the way with soil, add water to the soil and work around the soil with your shovel to dislodge air pockets. Then finish filling in the hole with soil. Continue adding soil until it covers the root ball by 1 inch. Build a circular berm with the remaining soil around the root ball to help with moisture retention. Apply a 2-inch layer of mulch over the root ball.