42 THE COMPLETE GARDEN 



injuring the roots. A mulch which is largely straw may provide a 

 refuge for rabbits, rats, and mice which frequently girdle plants during 

 the winter months. 



Transplanting Trees. Some plants, particularly trees, may be 

 transplanted successfully while young but are more difficult to move 

 as they get older. Examples of this are the hickory and oaks, which, 

 with the exception of the pin oak, form deep tap roots. The tulips and 

 magnolias are hard to move because they have few fibrous roots; 

 while maples and elms, on the contrary, have many fibrous roots 

 and are moved more easily. Junipers transplant more readily when 

 older, for they then have a more extensive lateral root system. 



Season to Transplant, and Preparation of Holes. Large trees 

 should be transplanted when they are dormant. It may be necessary 

 to move other material before the growing period has stopped, but 

 this should seldom be attempted with older trees. Large trees are 

 moved in winter, and it is preferable to move them when the ground is 

 frozen. The ball of earth on the roots will then remain fairly intact 

 and there will be a minimum of root loss when moving. Holes for the 

 trees should be dug with straight sides and with bottom rather convex 

 or slightly rounded. This is much to be preferred to making holes 

 bowlshaped and it permits an opportunity to spread the roots more 

 naturally than in a hole where the middle is deeper than the sides. 

 A common error in transplanting large trees is that of providing a 

 hole not sufficiently large to receive the roots of the tree without cramp- 

 ing. A hole for a large tree greater than five to six inches in diameter 

 should not be less than eight to ten feet in diameter, and never less than 

 three feet in depth. The most common method of transplanting large 

 trees is the method of cutting the roots down to a ball approximating 

 eight to ten feet in diameter. Trees transplanted in this way are 

 frequently subjected to a root-pruning process during the previous 

 summer, or preferably during the previous year. 



It has been stated by authorities, who are in a position to know, that 

 the ideal method of transplanting trees is by saving all of the root 

 system, if possible. This process is known as "combing" out the root 

 system. Under this method all of the roots are traced down to their 

 fine ends and then the roots are tied up in burlap in order to pre- 

 vent excessive drying out of the fine fibrous roots. Transplanting 



