Hybrid Poplar Tree Growing Information

1. Soil Preparation: As with any plant, the more fertile the soil the better the plant will grow. The same holds true with hybrid poplars. If you are in an area that has poor soil then I highly recommend ammending the soil with some good potting soil mixture, maybe even adding in some perlite and peat moss. Also, if the soils pH is too high it will reduce the growth rate if not kill your hybrid poplars, so it's a good idea to have your soil's ph tested. Anything above an 8 is bad news! All weeds and existing vegetation should be killed off in the immediate planting area, and a little layer of mulch will help keep these from growing back while you poplar establishes itself in the early years.

2. Water and irrigation: Hybrid poplars tend to appreciate an ample supply of water. When planted in a residential environment this is usually not an issue as most people have irrigation systems in place. However, in the case of more remote plantings if frequent watering will not be done then you can amend the soil with water gels and definitely mulch around each hybrid poplar to help retain moisture in the soil.

3. Fertilization: Hybrid poplars like any other plant draw nutrients from the soil. If your soil is not very fertile then you will need to apply a balanced nitrogen based fertilizer to your trees throughout the growing season to help them reach maximum growing potential.