Tree · Pinaceae family

Scots pine

Pinus sylvestris

Full sun in a garden 3–6 m × 1.5–3 m to −45 °C

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun

in a garden after 10 years3–6 m
in the wild up to 30 m
spacing 8 m

PlantingMarch–April, September–October

WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun, in soil from dry to moist.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more

Part shade3–6 hours

Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

acidic to neutral soil

acidicneutralalkaline

dry to moistclayloamysandy

Watering

regularly until establishedat the base, not on the leavesless when it rains

Frost

−45 °C

no winter protectiongreen in winter too

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

10–30 m× spread 6–15 m

Plant 8 m apart.

Reaches maturity in about 20–50 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

PlantingFeeding

Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant, root-balled).

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–April, September–October; root-balled: March–April, September–October

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 55 g/m² a year, if the soil needs it · May–June

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

High riskMedium riskLow riskRisk for this plant according to the source · no label = no documented level

Diplodia tip blight

Sphaeropsis pinea (Diplodia sapinea)

High riskdisease

What you will see

New needles turn brown and shorten, shoots and branches die back, mainly on weakened trees.

The source says: this pine species is very susceptible.

How to protect

Prevention
- Reduce stress on the tree (drought, compacted soil).
By hand in dry autumn weatherCut out dead shoots and remove them from the site.
Chemical — only when nothing else helpsA product authorised in your country against shoot browning of pines (Diplodia/Sphaeropsis) (as per the label; only if the other steps are not enough).

Diplodia tip blightdiseaseHigh risk

What you will see

New needles turn brown and shorten, shoots and branches die back, mainly on weakened trees.

The source says: this pine species is very susceptible.

How to protect

Prevention
- Reduce stress on the tree (drought, compacted soil).
By hand in dry autumn weatherCut out dead shoots and remove them from the site.
Chemical — only when nothing else helpsA product authorised in your country against shoot browning of pines (Diplodia/Sphaeropsis) (as per the label; only if the other steps are not enough).