EXERCISE 59 

 HOW TO PLANT A TREE 



Marks indicate 



•where to prune 



main trunk and 



branches 



New ground line 

 Nursery ground 

 line 



Line to which roots 

 should be pruned 



Statement. Nature if let alone maintains a balance between the root area and the top area of 

 growing plants. In transplanting trees this balance is disturbed, because most of the roots are cut off 



when the tree is removed from its growing place. Unless the top is cut 

 back to correspond to the new root system the tree will usually die. 



Object. To learn how to plant trees properly. 



Materials. Trees to be planted ; planting board ; sharp knife ; 

 shovel or spade. 



Directions, i. Drive stakes at the exact place where each tree is 

 to be planted. Before digging the hole stake the planting board in 

 place as shown in Fig. 83. 

 Remove the planting board 

 and stake, marking the loca- 

 tion of the tree, and dig the 

 hole. The hole should be 

 large enough to contain all 

 the roots without crowding 

 and deep enough to set the 

 tree about an inch deeper 

 than it grew in the nursery. 

 Prune from the roots any 

 broken, straggling, or inter- 

 lacing parts, replace the 

 board, and place the tree in 

 the hole. One person should 

 hold the tree in the proper 



position while dirt is filled in by another. Top soil should go in first 

 and should be tramped firmly about the roots as the hole is filled. 

 After the dirt is in place and has been firmed, a little loose soil 

 should be spread over the top to prevent the surface from baking. 



The top of the tree needs to be cut back in proportion to the severity with which the roots are 



pruned, but the shaping of the top may be left until 



the first year's pruning. 



2. One tree should be properly root-pruned and 



branch-pruned in the presence of the class, then 



1 he board is held firmly in place by stakes at the end notches ; the r . 



middle notch indicates where to dig the hole and later just where to the pruned tree and an unpruned one compared in 



set the tree in the hole j 11 . 1 •_, ...... P 



order to make clear the problems which will face 

 the two trees when they are planted. From the work and discussions write a statement of the proper 

 procedure in planting a young fruit tree. Make diagrams showing depth of planting, preparation of 

 hole for the tree, and appearance of the properly pruned tree. 



3. Invite the local nurseryman or an experienced orchardist of the neighborhood to assist in the 

 demonstration and if possible have each student plant fruit trees of different kinds and ages so as to 

 bring out the essential points in root and top pruning and in the formation of the head best adapted 

 to the local climate. Also require the students to plant a sufficient number of ornamentals to be- 

 come familiar with the habits of this group of shrubs and trees. 



[118] 



Fig. 80. Method of pruning trees before 

 planting 



The tree at the left is a one-year-old whip 

 and is cut back to form the head ; the one at 

 the right is a two-year-old and needs to be 

 top-pruned as well as root-pruned. The ir- 

 regular curve indicates where the roots should 

 be cut 



Fig. 81. The right and wrong ways of cutting 

 off branches 



At the left the right way ; the next branch was cut 

 too slanting ; the next too far from the bud ; the one 

 on the right, too near the bud. Courtesy of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau 

 of Plant Industry 



Fig. 82. Planting board 



