| nting trees, their mature height and spread must | | | | before planting and also from any air pockets |
| be considered before a selection is made. | | | | which may exist after planting. Having filled the |
| Tempting as are the nursery catalogues, it is | | | | hole to the depth required by the roots of the |
| necessary to choose carefully, especially on the | | | | plant, flood it with water to settle the soil at the |
| average lot, because crowding spoils the growth | | | | bottom; when this has drained away, place the |
| and appearance of trees, particularly specimen | | | | tree in the position in which it is to grow and |
| trees. In general, it is wisest and most economical | | | | settle the soil about it. Use a stick or shovel |
| to plant young trees. Planting a mature tree is | | | | handle to work the soil around the roots, and |
| difficult and, if done professionally, costly. If, | | | | make certain there are no air pockets. Spread the |
| however, a mature tree is badly needed for a | | | | roots out naturally, planting the tree at about the |
| terrace or for screening, it may well justify the | | | | same depth as in the nursery or its former |
| expense. What you are buying is the time it takes | | | | location. When the hole is two-thirds full, trample it |
| a smaller tree to mature. Today you can plant | | | | down and again fill with water. Don't firm down |
| trees when in full leaf with the aid of new | | | | the remaining soil, so that the water will drain |
| wilt-proof sprays that seal the leaves against | | | | towards the trunk. A balled-and-bur lapped tree is |
| moisture loss until the roots are established. This, | | | | one dug with a solid ball of rich, heavy loam in |
| however, costs money and entails greater risks | | | | which it has been growing in the nursery for |
| than buying your tree and planting it in early spring | | | | years, its root system thus amply covered and |
| (the best time) or late fall or winter. If you are | | | | protected. The ball is firmed and held in place by a |
| planting a tree over 6 feet tall, it will suffer less | | | | secure covering of twine and burlap. To plant it, |
| setback if moved with a bur-lapped root ball. The | | | | set the tree in a hole that is a trifle lower than it |
| soil preparation described in the previous chapter | | | | stood in the nursery. Work the soil beneath this |
| is helpful for most tree and shrub planting. But | | | | depth, as directed above. Dig the hole about twice |
| since the root system must have fertile soil when | | | | the size of your ball and plant at once. If the |
| it is planted, special steps must be taken. Dig a | | | | ground is dry at planting time, fill the hole with |
| hole 2 feet deep and at least 1 foot wider each | | | | water and let it soak away before planting. Cut |
| way than the full spread of the roots. The | | | | the burlap at the top when you put the ball in |
| bottom of the hole should be broken up with a | | | | place, rolling it back 3 or 4 inches. Plant ball, burlap |
| pitchfork and thoroughly mixed with peat, leaf | | | | and all-the burlap will soon rot away. If you are |
| mould, loam, etc. Manure should be used sparingly | | | | planting a big tree, it is transported in a truck, |
| and only on the top of the hole as it burns the | | | | lowered to the ground by winches, rolled along a |
| roots. The deeper you can cultivate your hole, the | | | | plank track on rollers and manoeuvred into the |
| better for your tree. Once it is planted, you can | | | | exact centre of the hole on a single board. A |
| cultivate around it but not under the roots. If you | | | | holding rope from the truck to the base of the |
| strike a subsoil of building rubble or clay, which | | | | tree trunk helps to position the tree. After the |
| you are very apt to find anywhere near a house | | | | tree is planted, cutting back is proper. Cut back |
| and in which a tree cannot grow, this subsoil must | | | | sharply at least one-third, pruning the branches. It |
| be removed and good soil, or better still, garden | | | | is necessary to brace the tree with wire ropes so |
| humus, substituted for it. If you are planting a | | | | that the roots will not be broken by the wind. Use |
| seedling that is not balled and bur lapped, you will | | | | a single wire around the trunk and three guy |
| want to protect it by "heeling in" a vacant flower | | | | wires. For the first year after planting, the more |
| bed where it may be kept before planting as long | | | | cultivation you can do the better. Keep weeds |
| as dormant. This means laying it on its side and | | | | away, too, with straw or mulch, and straw |
| covering the roots with good soil. When you take | | | | manure mulch in the spring and fall will help keep |
| it from the soil, give it a mud bath or "puddle" it. | | | | the moisture in the ground. |
| Puddling protects the roots from exposure to air | | | | |