Stone pine trees are quite durable once established, but they can be temperamental in the early years and are hard to restore if problems arise. This tree is best planted in dry to medium-moisture soil in a full-sun location, with plenty of space for growth. They have a natural preference for slightly sandy soils. Place in a full sun location.
You can use fallen pine needles as a natural mulch to help with water retention and keep weeds at bay. Make sure to leave a space of a few inches between the trunk and the mulch. If they touch, this can cause problems like fungal diseases and make it harder for the tree to get oxygen.
Stone pines often assume a shrubby, multi-stemmed shape when young, but as they grow upward, the multiple trunks usually merge into a single trunk, which then diverges into spreading branches high above the ground. Lower branches will naturally fall away as the tree grows upward and begin to assume its umbrella shape. No additional trimming is generally needed.
