33 

 PLANTING AND CARE. 



In Iowa, evergreen trees are best planted in the spring as 

 early as the soil can be conveniently worked. Order the trees 

 long enough in advance to make sure that they- will be on hand 

 for early planting. In all case, set the trees out before the 

 new growth starts, since it is much more difficult to get good 

 results after new roots have formed and the buds are opened. 

 Receiving: the Trees: The nurseryman shipping the trees 

 should pack them in such a manner as to prevent the roots 

 from drying. Generally evergreens are received in good con- 

 dition if there has been no delay in transit. In case weather 

 conditions will not permit the planting of the stock imme- 

 diately on being received, protect the trees carefully from 

 drying out. Take trees from the shipping package and "heel" 

 them by burying the roots in cool, moist earth. Protect the 

 trees from the sun and drying wind by spreading a mulch of 

 straw or leaves over the bed, or by placing them in the shade 

 of some building. "Heeling in" prevents the trees from dry- 

 ing out and also by keeping them in a cool place, prevents 

 them from starting growth. 



Preparing the Ground: Many failures in planting ever- 

 green trees result from a poor preparation of the soil. For 

 best results, plow the soil deeply and thoroly harrow it before 

 planting is attempted. As a class, the evergreen trees will en- 

 dure soils of poor quality and when once established need 

 little care. Some attention at the outset will often be the 

 means of securing a good stand of trees in the windbreak or 

 shelterbelt. 



Keep the Roots Moist: The first essential in planting ever- 

 green trees is to prevent the roots from drying. When time 

 will permit, it is quite desirable to select a cloudy day when 

 there is little or no wind. It should be borne in mind that 

 evergreens must be handled with much more care than broad- 

 leaf trees in planting. It is often possible to expose the roots 

 of some of the hardy broadleaf trees for several days without 

 serious injury. On the other hand, only a few minutes' ex- 

 posure of the roots of evergreen trees to the sun and wind 

 will often prevent their starting growth. At the time of 

 planting, carry the trees, a few at a time, in a bucket or other 

 vessel, where the roots can bo well protected with wet moss, 

 leaves or earth, until the tree is actually placed in the hole 

 for planting. 



Trimming the Roots: Before planting the trees, carefully 

 cut off the long, straggling roots and those which have been 

 injured, using pruning shears or a sharp knife. As a rule, 

 stock of relatively small size which has been once or twice 



