In the first year after planting a conifer tree, which practice would you NOT do?

• A. Fertilize
• B. Water regularly
• C. Soil preparation
• D. Use pesticides

Answer: (A)

Establishing a healthy root system is the priority in the first year after planting a conifer. Fertilizing at this stage can shock tender roots with salts and promote rapid top growth that the roots can’t support yet, increasing transplant stress or causing root burn. Because the tree is still trying to develop its underground network, you want to avoid adding fertilizer and instead support establishment with steady moisture and minimal disturbance. Watering regularly ensures the root zone stays consistently moist, which is critical for root growth. Soil preparation is typically done before planting; after planting, avoid heavy soil disturbance around the root zone so as not to disrupt the delicate roots. Pesticides are only needed if pests are actually present, not as a routine first-year practice. So, the practice you would not do in the first year is fertilizing.