I've been wanting to grow some pine trees or even cedars, just something evergreen for a wind break or for the birds through the winters. We bought this property about 3 - 1/2 years ago and it had 1 pine tree (maybe 45-50 ft tall) and it doesn't look that great, branches broke off and just looks awful..lol, I thought about trying to grow a few from seeds from the cones, I read up on it somewhat using google and found some tips about putting the seeds in water and seeing what seeds were good, but I didn't do that, I decided to go down the road a ways and there was a property by the road (somewhat abandoned) that had a cluster of small pines, I dug about 5 of them up in hopes of transplanting them, I brought them to my property and tried to plant them, I don't know if I watered them too much.. (our soil is kinda clay), I would think that clay could theoretically create a bowl effect and hold too much water, I'm thinking either they got too much water or went into shock because they didn't seem to last long.
We were at the edge of my property the other day because there was a rotten tree that broke off half way up and wanted to cut it down before it fell and hurt someone, it was briery and had brush in the way so I had to clear it out before we could get to the base of the tree and low and behold there were about 5-6 little pine trees (really young, one about 8-10" tall, and 5 about 2-3" tall).
I transplanted the little pines and they are not looking that good already.. kind of a darker dull green, any indication of whats going on? Is it shock?