Here are a few simple guidelines for selecting healthy conifers that will please you for many years to come:
Check the root system. Most conifers are sold either balled and in burlap, as well as in containers. Since they are shallow-rooted plants, check to be sure that the plants have adequate, healthy roots. The root tips should be creamy white or reddish in color - not black. Check to see if the plant is loose and wobbly - push gently on the plant and watch the base of the stem. If the pot or the burlap looks old and worn, the plant may have been sitting in the sales yard for several seasons, and the root system might not be healthy.
naturally have a rounded or spreading shape should be well-balanced and evenly branched.
Bigger is not necessarily better. Many conifers acclimate better to a new planting site if they are young and vigorous. If faced with the choice of planting a hedge with 5-6 ft tall plants or 3-4 ft tall plants — the 3-4 ft plants is the better choice. After two or three years, the shorter plants will very often surpass the 5-6 ft tall plants in growth because the larger specimens will take longer to adjust to the site.