1. Planting: Dig the hole twice the size as the root ball and just a little shallower. Loosen the soil in and around the hole so the roots can easily break through the soil. Use your fingers to separate the roots of your Hinoki Cypress tree and gently position them downward in the hole. The top of the root flare (where the roots end and the trunk begins) should be about an inch above the surrounding soil. Hold the tree straight as you begin to backfill the site, tamping down the soil as you go. When completely backfilled, apply water to settle the soil and remove any air pockets.

2. Watering: Water your Hinoki Cypress evenly until the soil becomes moist. You’ll want the area to look and feel moist but not to the point where it’s oversaturated or soggy. Allow the soil to dry for a few days until it feels dry to the touch about 2 inches below the surface. A slow drip from a garden hose works best as it allows the water to penetrate the soil deep down to the roots without over saturating it.

During excessive hot and dry weather, you may need to up the watering to three times weekly. Some regions in the Southwestern U.S. can have very dry winters, if located in that area and suffering a winter drought, you should water twice a month through the winter season.

Stick your finger into the potting soil down to a depth of 2 inches and feel around for any moisture. If the soil is drying out, go ahead and water it until you see it escaping the drainage holes and then stop. If there is some moisture present, leave it be until the soil dries a bit more.

3. Fertilizing: Fertilize your tree well after a year of growth once the root system has had enough time to establish. This will speed up the growth of your tree and provide beneficial nutrients. Using a general fertilizer such as a 10-10-10 formula once every spring will give it a boost. Alternatively, you can feed the tree with solid tree fertilizer spikes labeled for use on evergreens. You’ll find the proper number of spikes to use in the directions on the fertilizer packaging.

4. Pruning: If you intend on letting your cypress tree grow to its full, mature height then very little pruning will be needed. If you plan to keep your trees from growing past a certain point or want them to stay in an ornate shape, then pruning more regularly will be required.