Can Bristle Cone Pine grow in Ohio?

Question

I have tried to grow this pine in my rock garden and it was dead by the next spring. The drainage was great(No Clay)! I had a landscaper tell me to put a layer of stone or gravel under the plant, then plant it. I am thinking Slica Sand(Course) and mix it in the soil. What do you think? Does anyone have any Ideas?

Answer 1

What is your soil pH? Bristlecone are found in drier soils which will be slightly acidic, near neutral or even into the alkaline side. If you are very acidic........no go. You say you don't have clay.......what do you have? Loam, silty loam, sandy?? Why would you want to add sand or gravel if you don't have clay and have good drainage. Hmmm. I'm confused. In clay soils adding rock underneath impedes drainage, it doesn't improve it! It all has to do with surface tension......... And in clay adding sand is the worst thing you can do unless you add FEET of sand. Clay particles are microscopic and it takes TONS and TONS of sand to do any good. Anything less and you make ......concrete.

Try mounding your soil, planting on the mound, don't over plant, that is sinking the root ball below the soil level more than1/2 inch. Use mulch to temper soil temperature fluctuations and keep moisture level constant. The mound will help drain off excessive moisture, the mulch will help protect the roots from deep freezes.

You know it may have nothing to do with the soil and have to do with the plant, how it was planted, whether a wire was left on to girdle the stem (unlikely in a few months) broken root ball at planting, etc.

It's my favorite pine. try again!

Answer 2

Zones 4 to 7

Check out this informative website:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/pinus_aristata.html