ILLINOIS TREES: SELECTION, PLANTING, AND CARE 25 



wrapping reduces loss of water and thus prevents excessive dry- 

 ing of the bark. Dry bark is especially attractive to borers. As a 

 general recommendation, keep the trees wrapped for two growing 

 seasons or until they are growing vigorously. Remove the wrap- 

 pings each spring and fall to examine the bark for insect injury. 

 If borers are present, treat as recommended in Survey Circular 

 47, mentioned above. 



Rolls of paper or burlap 3-8 inches wide are commonly used 

 for spiral wrappings. Suitable widths are 3-4 inches for small 

 trees, 5-6 inches for medium trees, and 7-8 inches for large 

 trees. Burlap 4 inches wide and sewn on one edge makes a neater 

 wrapping than unsewn or torn strips. Apply the wrapping mate- 

 rial neatly. To wrap the trunk, start at the base of the branches 

 and wrap spirally to the ground. Cover any bark exposed below 

 the wrapping with soil. Secure the wrapping with raffia, string, 

 or stout twine (Fig. 22) . The twine may be tied around the base 

 of the wrapping with a slip knot and then wrapped, using spaced 

 loops, as shown in Fig. 22, or it may be wrapped spirally around 

 the trunk in the opposite direction to the spiral of the wrapping 

 paper. The twine is tied securely at the top of the wrapping. 

 Examine the twine periodically and loosen it if this becomes nec- 

 essary to avoid girdling the trunk. 



Watering 



Newly planted trees with limited root systems need an abun- 

 dance of water during the growing season. Supply enough water 

 to soak the soil around the roots at each watering, but do not 

 water too often ; allow the soil to dry sufficiently between water- 

 ings to provide adequate aeration for good root growth. A com- 

 mon practice is to soak the soil thoroughly every 7-10 days 

 during prolonged dry periods in the growing season. Sandy soils 

 require more water to maintain good tree growth than do loam 

 or clay soils. You can get a rough idea of the amount of moisture 

 present by squeezing a handful of the soil. Adequate moisture 

 is available if the soil remains in a firm ball after it has been 

 squeezed. 



Water distribution will be more even throughout the root 

 area if dikes, collars, or levees are made around the tree, as indi- 

 cated in Fig. 17, beyond the edges of the original hole or beneath 

 the tips of the branches, and holes are drilled to various levels 

 in the soil within the dikes. Recently planted trees, and espe- 

 cially evergreens, also need an abundance of water before the 



