36 THE COMPLETE GARDEN 



Planting Beds. General Preparations of. Soil for planting 

 should be prepared carefully. Beds for shrubbery should be dug at 

 least twelve inches deep and ample width and depth provided for 

 trees, varying according to their size. The soil should be made loose 

 and friable so that it will cover the roots thoroughly. Well-rotted 

 manure should be incorporated in planting beds, but never directly in 

 contact with the roots, especially of evergreens. Heavy soils should be 

 lightened, if possible, by the addition of sandy loam or straw manure 

 and light soils should be improved by the addition of vegetable matter. 



Oftentimes owners of property are so anxious to do their planting 

 in an economical way that they lose sight of the facf that thorough 

 preparation of all planting areas, although more expensive, is good 

 economy, and the least expensive way in the long run of obtaining good 

 results. Poor preparation of planting beds as well as foundations for 

 lawn areas means an increased expense in the cost of maintenance 

 during the succeeding years after the completion of the original work. 

 Thorough preparation of planting beds can be accomplished only 

 through the use of good friable topsoil and an adequate supply of well- 

 rotted manure. It is an easy matter in all planting work, especially 

 that done in clay soils, to do so-called pocket planting and to feel that 

 the initial expense has been very greatly reduced. In all planting 

 areas bordering refined laVns this method of planting is not desirable. 

 It causes a "soil-bound" and a stunted growth of the root system and 

 does not provide the adequate food supply which plants growing freely 

 in a loose and friable soil can obtain. 



Heeling-in Stock to Be Transplanted. When shipments of 

 stock are received it is frequently impossible to plant the material as 

 rapidly as it is unpacked, and it is often impossible to plant the stock 

 because the beds are not prepared. The placing of stock in temporary 

 nursery rows immediately after it has been unpacked is called "heeling 

 in." In this manner stock may be preserved in its normal condition 

 until such time as it can be transplanted to its permanent location. 

 There are a few important points in connection with the operation of 

 "heeling-in" stock which should be clearly understood. Trees 

 and shrubs, when "heeled-in" over winter, should be leaned to the 

 north so that the low winter sun may not shine directly into the tops 

 nor so readily melt the frozen ground about the stems. Thus they are 

 protected better from freezing and thawing of the ground and from 



