Evergreen Seeds it’s a Gardening Blog and a passionate community of nature enthusiasts. (2024)

FAQs

What do evergreen seeds look like? ›

Coniferous trees vary in their ripe period but typically cedar species cones are ripe from August-October. Ripe cones will generally be brown or purplish and the seeds will be full, plump and white, but not milky.

Keep the seeds in an area that gets plenty of sunlight for 2-4 weeks. The seeds of evergreen trees should be kept at least 60 °F (16 °C) for 2-4 weeks in order to properly germinate. A small green stem will form out of the soil for the seeds that properly germinated.

All Seasons Evergreen® is quick to establish from seed. Germination can be expected 5 to 10 days after sowing and reasonable coverage in 6 to 8 weeks. This lawn takes a few months to reach full maturity.

As you likely know, conifer seeds (some of which are as large as a quarter inch in diameter, while others are minute) are tucked between the scales of cones. The best time to gather them is in the fall, when the fibrous “petals” at the base of the woody husks have begun to open, indicating ripeness.

Oaks, one of our most important keystone species, are some of the easiest trees to grow from seed. The seeds are easy to find and to collect, and ripe acorns can be found from September through early winter. Oaks species native to the South, like Quercus virginiana, may germinate immediately.

A “complete” fertilizer — one that supplies the macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) — is often recommended. A fertilizer analysis of 10-8-15 means the fertilizer has 10 percent nitrogen, 8 percent phosphorous, and 15 percent potassium.

Newly planted evergreens should be watered regularly during the first year after planting. They should be soaked by rain or supplemental watering once a week, or more during hot, dry weather. Keep watering during the first year during dry conditions right up until the ground freezes.

In pines, two seeds are wedged in each scale of the female cone, and they will drop from the mature cone when conditions are right and the cone and seeds are fully mature. More seeds will drop from large pine cones than from small cones, and hundreds of seeds per cone are common, depending on the pine species.

Pine needle scale, Chionaspis pinifoliae, is one of the most common armored scales found on conifers in the United States. Sometimes referred to as white scale, this plant-sucking insect damages evergreens through feeding on the tree's sap.

The bags are often mistaken for pine cones or seed pods and can be found on the branches of trees and shrubs. Bagworms are most often found on evergreen trees and shrubs, as they prefer these plants to lay their eggs. However, they will also attack deciduous trees and other types of plants if given the opportunity.

What does a pine seed look like? ›

A white pine seed looks a bit like a maple seed lodged inside the cone, with a papery tail extending the length of the scale. This tail acts like a kite. During rainy weather, the moisture-sensitive scales of a pine cone close to keep the seeds dry and protect them from rot.