Blue Atlas Cedar Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on April 26, 2022

Planting instructions

Site your blue Atlas cedar tree in a spot with at least four hours of direct sunlight a day. Although the Blue atlas cedar tree grows best in loamy soil, it’s not fussy and can handle clay or sandy soil as long as it drains well. Unpot your sapling and tease out any encircling roots, as these can girdle the tree and eventually kill it. Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Place the tree in the hole, and, while holding it upright, fill in around it with a good quality topsoil, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. Add a 2-to 3-inch layer of an organic mulch, such as bark chips, around the root zone, being careful that it does not touch the trunk.

Watering and nutrients

For its first growing season, water your blue Atlas cedar tree every few days to help it establish a healthy root system. Taper off as the tree grows older. When mature, it should not need supplemental watering unless you’re experiencing a heat wave or drought. Fertilize in the spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer when the tree is young. Once it is mature, growth will slow down and there is no longer a need for fertilizer.

Pollination

The blue Atlas cedar tree is monoecious, meaning that male and female reproductive organs can both be found on one plant. It is also a gymnosperm, meaning that it does not have flowers or fruit. Instead it produces male and female cones, which are pollinated by the wind to produce seeds.

Pruning

A mature blue Atlas cedar needs no pruning except to remove broken, diseased, or damaged branches. Young trees can be lightly pruned for shape and size in the early summer, but be careful not to remove the central leader (main vertical branch), which will lead to a misshapen tree. If your tree grows two central leaders, prune out the weaker one, cutting back to where it connects with the main trunk.

Pests and diseases

Although generally pest- and disease-free, there are a few things to watch for with your blue Atlas cedar tree. The deodar weevil, also called eastern pine weevil, can destroy the branches of younger trees and cause a canker fungus on branches. Handle them with a broad-spectrum insecticide. Black scale insects may also be a problem and are best dealt with by keeping your tree healthy to avoid infestations. Tip blight can cause dieback and is more common in humid or very rainy weather. Prune out infected branches, and use a fungicide if symptoms persist.

Achieving maximum results

The key to growing a healthy and vibrant blue Atlas cedar tree is careful placement. The blue Atlas cedar is a large tree, with a significant spread of up to 30 to 40 feet, so it needs to be carefully spaced away from buildings, overhead wires, and driveways. It is prone to root rot if left standing in water, so be sure you’re placing it in a spot that drains well. How do you know if your soil drains well? Dig a hole 12 inches deep and about 12 inches wide where you’d like to place your tree. Fill the hole with water, and allow it to drain. Refill it again 12 hours later, and note how long it takes the water to drain. If the soil drains well, the water should be gone in two to three hours. If it takes less than two hours or more than six, choose another spot.

Compare Similar Products