Growing Amelanchier
Latin Name Pronunciation: am-e-lang' kee-er
Amelanchier is a genus of 20-30 spring-blooming deciduous shrub or tree species in the Rose family Roseaceae. Almost exclusively native to North America, these superb wildlife plants, planted as a grove, hedge, or single specimen in part shade or sun, bring year-round grace and beauty.
On arrival: Your bareroot tree has been stored in a temperature-controlled cooler, which simulates winter and keeps the plant dormant. Dormant plants are unaffected by cold weather and can be planted as soon as you are able to dig a hole in the ground. If you cannot plant immediately, your tree may be stored upright in its wrapping material in a cool, dark place such as a basement, garage, or unheated shed, for a week or so. Keep it away from direct sun.
Light: Full sun to part shade.
Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained loamy soil with plentiful organic content, but tolerant of a wide range of soils except those with extreme acidity or alkalinity. Mulch to preserve soil moisture.
Planting a bareroot tree: Select a spot in your garden that is sheltered from strong winds. When you’re ready to plant, unwrap your tree and remove the packing material.
- Soak the roots of your tree in a container of water for a couple hours to rehydrate them.
- Dig a hole wider than the spread of the roots and deep enough to accommodate them, allowing for adjustments.
- Use excavated soil to form a mound in the center of the hole.
- Set the tree on top of the mound, fanning its roots outward. Adjust the height of the mound by adding or removing soil until the tree is positioned so that the crown (where the roots meet the stem) is at the surrounding soil level. Roots should all be below grade when the hole is filled.
- Check from all sides to make sure that the trunk is perfectly upright, not leaning in any direction.
- Backfill the hole with soil about halfway and water well, allowing water to soak in and settle the soil. Re-check for upright trunk alignment. Then add remaining soil to the top of the hole, creating a little dam around the outer edge, and water again.
- It is best to stake a young tree for extra support until its trunk attains sturdy proportions. Choose a stake that has a diameter at least as large as the stem’s diameter and long enough that when pushed firmly into the soil, it reaches inside the head of the tree. Fasten the trunk to the stake at several points with garden twine or soft ties. Check the ties periodically and loosen them if they constrict the outward growth of the stem.
Establishing a bareroot tree: Do not fertilize when planting or for the first growing season.
- Because a bareroot plant is dormant, it cannot take up much water. Refrain from watering after the initial planting until the tree leafs out and begins actively growing, unless you are experiencing extreme drought conditions.
- Minimal pruning is needed until one or two growing seasons have passed, although any suckers growing from the base of the tree could potentially be from the rootstock and should be promptly removed.
- Once the plant has broken dormancy and is producing leaves, care for as described below.
Watering: Naturally grows in moist to average conditions. Water deeply during drought or if planted in less moisture-retentive soil. Should not need regular water once established in its preferred conditions.
Fertilizing: Fertilizer is not needed in most situations. A yearly 1-2" topdressing of compost or decomposed leaves is beneficial. Do not fertilize in the first growing season. Pruning: Little to no pruning required. Remove broken or crossing branches, snip any suckers that appear if you wish to maintain tree rather than shrub form.
Pests/Diseases: Serviceberries are generally low-care plants but can be susceptible to common Rose-family diseases such as fire blight, rust, powdery mildew, or fungal leaf spots. Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’ is known to be disease-resistant.