PLANTING AND TRANSPLANTING 41 



as for a vegetable garden. The little plants, which should not have 

 been exposed at all to the warm air or drying winds, are then best 

 puddled before they are lined out. But in this actual planting there 

 is danger of permitting the mud in which they were puddled to become 

 hardened about their roots. Further to safeguard them, particu- 

 larly if they are evergreens, it is necessary to shade them until they 

 are well established in the new home. Some evergreens, particu- 

 larly the small shrubby kinds, need such shading even beyond the 

 first year. 



Pruning Transplanted Stock. Suggestions with reference to 

 pruning are covered more fully in the chapter on "Pruning." One 

 of the fundamental practices to be followed in connection with the 

 correct transplanting of stock is to prune all branches and roots 

 properly. Any branches that are crowding should be carefully pruned 

 at the time of transplanting, especially if the transplanting is done in 

 the spring; otherwise it is a better practice to leave the stock standing 

 in its new position during the winter and perform the necessary prun- 

 ing of the top in the early spring or later winter months. An exception 

 to this practice is the case of maple trees, which should be pruned 

 before sap starts to flow in the spring. With trees and shrubs hav- 

 ing a heavy top, at least one-third of the top should be removed 

 at the time of transplanting, or before the stock has commenced to 

 make its new growth in the spring. This is done to offset the loss 

 of roots incurred in moving and it is essential except with nursery 

 stock which has been frequently root-pruned at the nursery. All 

 bruised and broken roots should be carefully pruned, with a clean 

 cut, at the time of transplanting. Only in this manner will roots 

 heal and possible decay be avoided. Save as many roots as possible 

 when moving. 



Winter Protection of Newly Transplanted Stock. A neces- 

 sary feature in caring for newly transplanted plants, especially those 

 set in the fall, is to apply a suitable mulch for winter protection. This 

 applies to all kinds of transplanted material. A mulch, in heavier 

 clayey soils, reduces the possible injury caused by changes of tempera- 

 ture and consequent heaving of the plants. A proper mulch of fresh 

 stable litter, applied three to six inches in depth, keeps the soil at an 

 even temperature and prevents extreme freezing conditions from 



