THE NORTH DAKOTA FARMSTEAD 



57 



by removing the old shoots frequently and giving the young shoots 

 a better chance for development. Always try to preserve the natural 

 shape of the plant, as this is much more beautiful than any fanciful or 

 grotesque figure into which it might be trimmed. 



Hedges do not fall in this category as their value depends upon 

 their being kept low, so as to be thick and impervious to live stock. A 

 sharp corn knife is the best tool for trimming hedges. This trimming 

 should never be done later than the last of July, as later trimming 

 will cause a new growth to start. Old dead branches should be cut off 

 when they appear as such. With some hedges, as the Kussian Golden 

 Willow, it is necessary to cut them down to the ground every few 

 years to get a new growth. The best time for trimming trees and 

 most shrubs is when the leaves are off. 



Figure 47 Showing cultivation of a planting of ash trees. 



WINTER PROTECTION 



Winter injury results from trees going into winter with the 

 young growth not fully ripened and from the drying out of the roots. 

 The most practical means of winter protection for lawn, shrubs, trees 

 and fruit trees is a deep mulch of manure applied after the ground 

 is frozen. This prevents the drying out of the roots over winter and 

 by keeping the ground frozen will prevent any injury that might come 

 from a possible mid-winter thaw. Very valuable or freshly transplanted 



