Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Grow Aspen Trees in California
How to Grow Aspen Trees in California. Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a fast-growing, short-lived deciduous tree that can quickly reach a height and spread of 40 feet. Aspen is native to the west and east coasts of the United States, according to the University of Connecticut, and is hardy to USDA hardiness zones 1 to 7, which includes most...
Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a fast-growing, short-lived deciduous tree that can quickly reach a height and spread of 40 feet. Aspen is native to the west and east coasts of the United States, according to the University of Connecticut, and is hardy to USDA hardiness zones 1 to 7, which includes most parts of central eastern California. Plant it wherever you have full sun and moist, well-drained soil, preferably near water.
Things You'll Need
Shovel
Bucket
Pruning shears
Mulch
Choose a planting site for aspen that gets full sun for at least six to eight hours per day. In most areas of California, this is not difficult to do. The southeast area of a yard is ideal.
Plant aspens in fall. Dig a hole with a shovel that is twice the width of the aspen's root ball, and just as deep. If you're planting more than one, space the holes at least 15 feet apart.
Set the aspen tree in the hole, making sure the root collar (where the trunk meets the soil) is about 2 inches above the soil line, to allow for settling. Backfill the hole with soil, pressing it firmly against the roots to close air spaces. Drench the root zone with a bucket of water.
Continue watering every other day for the next three weeks, to help roots overcome shock and begin to grow.
Prune branches from the lowest third of the aspen tree to train it upward quickly. Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch in a 3-foot ring around the aspen, starting 6 inches from the trunk. Mulch will hold moisture in the soil during California's periods of drought.
Cut back new aspen trees that sprout from the original tree's invasive, wide root system annually, unless you want a stand of aspens to develop.
