Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Mondell Pine
Mondell Pine is a fast-growing evergreen pine that grows into a dense, upright pyramid of green needles. It is one of the most common pines in Arizona desert yards, and it takes desert heat, drought and alkaline soil. People plant it as a windbreak, a privacy screen or a big evergreen shade tree. It is also sold as a living Christmas tree you can plant in the yard after the holidays.
Best for: a windbreak or privacy screen along a lot line, a big evergreen shade tree where it has room, or a living Christmas tree to plant out later.
Plant a row about 20 feet or more apart along a property line. Its dense, upright form and lower branches that tend to stay on block wind and views close to the ground.
Grown as a single tree it casts cooling shade all year. Leave it plenty of open space, since it can reach 30 to 60 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide.
Its conical shape makes it a popular living Christmas tree. Keep it in its pot through the holidays, then plant it in a sunny spot in the yard.
It gets too big for small yards and narrow side yards. Big trees that are shorted on summer water can brown and decline, and stressed pines can draw bark beetles. It drops older needles in fall and sheds yellow pollen in spring.
- Windbreak or screen row20 ft or more apart
For the first two weeks, water a new tree every 1 to 2 days in summer, or every 3 to 4 days in cooler months. Ease to about weekly in summer by the second month. Keep up deep, regular soaks for its first 3 years.
Give it more water as it grows larger. Once rooted, soak it 2 to 3 feet deep about every 7 to 14 days in summer and every 2 to 4 weeks in winter. Water at the drip line, not the trunk.
Raise the lower branches slowly as it grows. Do not thin the crown, because exposed trunk and branches sunburn.
Pine bark beetles go after stressed, thirsty pines, so keep up deep summer soaks. Aphids in spring leave sticky honeydew.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How fast does a Mondell pine grow?
It is a fast pine. With good care it can gain about 10 to 15 feet in its first four years, which is about 2 to 3 feet a year.
How tall and wide does a Mondell pine get?
It can reach 30 to 60 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide. Older trees can grow taller. It keeps a dense, upright pyramid shape.
How far apart should I plant Mondell pines for a windbreak?
Plant a windbreak or screen row about 20 feet or more apart, center to center. Its lower branches tend to stay on, so the row blocks wind close to the ground. A single shade tree spreads 15 to 25 feet wide, so leave at least that much open space around it.
How often should I water a Mondell pine?
Water deeply and not too often once it is rooted. Give it regular deep soaks for the first 2 to 3 years. As it grows, move the water out to the edge of the branches and water deeper.
Will it grow in rocky or alkaline Valley soil?
Yes. It handles alkaline soil and grows in clay, rocky and sandy soil. It does best where the soil drains.
How cold hardy is a Mondell pine?
It is rated hardy to about 10°F, and some lists go lower. Valley winters do not bother it.
Does a Mondell pine need pruning?
It needs very little pruning. If you do cut, raise the lower branches slowly rather than thinning the crown, because bark that loses its shade can sunburn in summer.
Is a Mondell pine messy?
It drops some older needles in fall, which is normal for pines. It also sheds yellow pollen in early spring.
Why is my Mondell pine turning brown?
Browning on the inside needles in fall is normal needle drop. Browning of whole branches often points to stress, usually too little summer water. Stressed pines in the Valley can draw a small bark beetle, so keep big trees deeply watered.
Does it get aphids?
Green aphids can show up in spring. They leave a sticky honeydew on the needles and on whatever sits below.
Can I plant my living Christmas tree after the holidays?
Yes. Mondell pines are sold as living Christmas trees for that reason. Plant it in full sun with room to grow, since it becomes a large tree.
What is the difference between Mondell pine and Aleppo pine?
Young trees look a lot alike. Mondell pine keeps a tighter, upright pyramid shape. Aleppo pine grows into a larger, irregular tree that can spread about as wide as it is tall.
Mondell Pine for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Mondell Pine (Pinus eldarica), also called Afghan or Eldarica pine, is one of the most common pines in Arizona desert yards. It grows fast into a dense, upright pyramid and takes desert heat, drought and alkaline soil. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard, from size and spacing to water, cold, pruning, pests and how it compares to Aleppo pine.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How fast does Mondell pine grow in Arizona?
Mondell pine is one of the faster pines for the desert. With good care it can gain about 10 to 15 feet in its first four years. It can reach 30 to 60 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide over time.
How far apart do you plant Mondell pines for a windbreak?
Plant a windbreak or privacy row about 20 feet or more apart, center to center. Give a single shade tree 20 to 25 feet of open space. Its lower branches tend to stay on, so a row blocks wind close to the ground.
How often do you water a Mondell pine in Phoenix?
Water deeply and not too often. New trees need regular deep soaks for their first 2 to 3 years. As the tree grows, move the water out to the edge of the branches and water deeper, especially through summer.
Why is my Mondell pine turning brown?
Some browning of the older, inside needles in fall is normal. Whole branches browning often means stress from too little summer water. Stressed pines in the Valley can draw a small bark beetle that can kill the tree.
Mondell pine vs Aleppo pine
Young Mondell and Aleppo pines are hard to tell apart. Mondell pine keeps a dense, upright pyramid about 15 to 25 feet wide. Aleppo pine grows into a large, irregular tree that can spread about as wide as it is tall.
Can you plant a living Christmas tree in Arizona?
Yes. Mondell pine is sold as a living Christmas tree because of its conical shape. After the holidays, plant it in full sun with room to grow into a 30 to 60 foot tree.
Is Mondell pine cold hardy?
It is rated hardy to about 10°F, with some lists going lower. That covers Valley winters with room to spare.
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