Evergreen Trees

When to Sample: During the dormant period, from late October to late December. In Mediterranean or Aquitaine climates, and from February in oceanic or continental climates, element movement between leaves and buds can occur, potentially skewing leaf diagnostics.

Where: From 10 healthy and uniform trees that are representative of the plot.

How: Sample from the upper and well-lit part of the current year's shoots, excluding the terminal shoot of the main stem. Choose the terminal shoot or the annual bilateral shoots from the first or second whorl below the apex.

Quantity: Approximately 10 grams of dry matter, or 30 to 50 grams of leaves from the 10 trees constituting each sample.

Conditioning: Place the batch of leaves in a clean, sturdy plastic bag. Label each batch clearly with: Name, address, variety, rootstock, date of sampling, and plot reference.

Precautions: To avoid mold or contamination during drying, ship the sample immediately and by express to the laboratory.