beach pine

Beach pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia 'Chief Joseph') requires moderate watering, as it is tolerant of drought. Water the plant deeply once or twice a week, or whenever the top inch of the soil is dry to the touch. During the hottest part of the summer, beach pines may need an extra drink. Make sure to slowly pour water around the base of the plant until water seeps out the bottom of the pot, fertilizing the soil with a liquid fertilizer or compost tea every 2 weeks in the summer months. Reduce the watering in winter when the plant is dormant.

Beach pines need full sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours each day, with more hours of sunlight preferable in summer when the days are longest. The sunlight should be direct during the peak hours of the day and lighting should be bright but not intense. Beach pine trees do best in direct midday sunlight which is more intense than the morning or afternoon sun. As the weather warms, the plant can be moved to a slightly shadier location if it starts to look stressed by the sun.

Beach pines (Pinus contorta var. latifolia 'Chief Joseph') can be pruned any time during the growing season but should be done sparingly. Pruning should be done when the bush is dense and overcrowded, and when branch tips are drooping and blocking walkways or growing into neighboring plants. When pruning beach pines, only remove dead, diseased, or broken branches. Do not cut back more than a quarter of the overall size of the bush at 1 time. For the overall shape and structure of the bush, selectively remove branches that are growing too closely together or in opposite directions. Removing any branches that are growing inward can also help promote better air circulation within the bush. In addition, the lower branches can be removed to give the bush an overall better appearance. Finally, removal of some branch tips can be done if desired for developing a desired form or shape.