ILLINOIS TREES: SELECTION, PLANTING, AND CARE 



17 



Fig. 13.— Trees too 

 close to buildings grow 

 lopsided and their roots 

 may damage the build- 

 ing foundation. 



Planting Procedures _ 



Digging the hole. — Dig the hole for a bare-root tree large 

 enough so the roots can be fully expanded and arranged in their 

 normal position (Fig. 14). They should not be twisted, crowded, 

 or arranged in a circle against the wall of the hole or all in one 

 direction. Fig. 15 shows the result of improper root arrange- 

 ment, where the roots were twisted and pointed in one direction 

 when the tree was planted. Improperly arranged roots may 

 result in retarded growth or even death of entire trees after a 

 few years. Balled trees need a hole 2-3 feet wider than the soil 

 ball (Fig. 16). This allows for a trench 1-1 V-i feet wide around 

 the ball to be filled with good soil. The hole should be deep enough 

 so the tree can be planted at the same depth as it was before it 

 was dug. Some arborists prefer to set a tree slightly higher than 

 it was in its original position. This allows for settling of the tree. 



Providing drainage. — Adeciuate drainage is essential for 

 the survival of newly planted trees, and any hole in soil that will 

 not drain readily should have drainage provided. If clay or hard- 

 pan at the bottom of a hole is underlaid by gravel, you can pro- 



