Question
I have always had an interest in planting some conifers in my yard. I want to purchase some seedlings via mail order. What do I need to know for planting in my area { CT } and is it ok to plant in the fall? Also , I've noticed many conifer nurseries only ship during the spring. Are these seedlings available this time of year? I was interested in 5 to 10" seedlings , and perhaps a bit bigger

Answer
The problem is the winter temperature and the frozen soil. It is best to wait until the spring to do these plantings. The reason you would not usually plant these evergreens and conifers in November, December etc is that they are liable to be damaged by cold drying winter winds. They are liable to suffer from wind burn or dessication especially on the semi mature trees. Deciduous plants are leafless so they are not affected, whereas broadleaf evergreens and conifers retain their leaves over the winter often leading to drying of their leaves. The month of March is the safest time to plant those evergreens and conifers, so get them in before the month is out.

How to Plant
The hole you dig for your new conifer should be shallow and wide梩wice the width of and more shallow than the height of the root ball. Unless the soil is very compacted or so light and porous that it retains very little moisture, you will not need to add organic matter. If soil drainage is a continual problem, consider creating a raised planting bed that has been amended to improve the soil.

When planting a conifer sold in a container, first loosen the roots by firmly tapping around the pot with the palm of your hand. Then, trim any roots that may be growing out of the drainage holes. If the plants are small, place your hand on the top of the pot, spreading your fingers so that the stem and the top of the soil are supported, and carefully slide the plant out, keeping the root ball intact. Tip large containers onto their sides to facilitate this process.

Many container-grown plants will have a mass of circling roots that should carefully be loosened by hand or with a small hand cultivator prior to planting. This will prevent the roots from girdling and eventually killing the plant.

to prevent the root ball from breaking apart. B&B conifers are sometimes wrapped in plastic "burlap" or treated burlap, which may be green in color. These coverings do not decompose and should be removed before you fill in the hole with soil.

Plants in untreated burlap should be set into the prepared hole, which should then be filled about a third of the way with soil. Next, cut the burlap and cord away from the trunk and roll the burlap back to expose the top of the soil. Finally, you can fill in the rest of the hole, burying the burlap.

No matter how the plant was grown, be sure that the trunk flare (where the trunk and roots meet) is slightly higher than the surrounding soil level to compensate for settling, especially if your soil is heavy or poorly drained. Some root balls have soil above the trunk flare and it is best to remove it. Use excess soil to create a saucer or rim around the plant. This will allow water to collect, keeping the plant moist until it is established, and will provide extra soil when settling occurs. Always water thoroughly after planting.

Diligent care is critical from the time of planting until new roots are established. For the first few weeks, check the plant every two to three days for signs of stress and water whenever the soil feels dry. Once the roots have grown out into the surrounding soil, which generally takes about three to six months, the plant can be checked less frequently.

Watering
Established plantings need supplemental water only during periods of prolonged drought. The amount of water will depend on the species and your soil type. On average, water thoroughly if the top two to three inches of soil feel dry. Deep waterings when needed are better than frequent, shallow waterings. It's important to note that conifers do not show signs of stress as readily as other plants. For example, they seldom wilt; instead, the overall plant color will lighten or fade and interior needles will turn brown.

Mulching
Mulching conifers is essential. It maintains the relatively cool soil temperatures that most conifers prefer. Mulching also helps conserve water and reduces weed competition. However, the mulch should be no more than two to three inches deep, and should never come in contact with the trunks of your plants.

Do not fertilize the trees for the first year.  Conifers are not heavy feeders and need only an annual application of a general, complete garden fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 16-8-8, or a top dressing of well-rotted manure. It is best to fertilize in the early spring before the plants break dormancy, or in late fall before the soil freezes.
Make sure you do not use a lawn fertilizer called Weed and Feed this will kill the trees.