ILLINOIS TREES: SELECTION, PLANTING, AND CARE 13 



and evergreens are usually moved and planted with balls of soil 

 covering their roots. The size of the ball will depend on the size 

 and species of tree and the type of soil in which the tree is grow- 

 ing. Trees that are difficult to move, such as beech, hickory, 

 hornbeam, sassafras, sweet gum, tupelo, walnut, and white oak, 

 need larger balls than trees that are easy to move. Trees growing 

 in loose, well-drained soil, such as a sandy soil, will have more 

 extensive or spreading root systems than trees growing in a hard, 

 poorly drained soil like a tight clay. 



In general a ball for deciduous trees is approximately 10 

 inches in diameter for each inch of trunk diameter 1 foot above 

 ground. Therefore, a tree with a trunk 3 inches in diameter needs 

 a ball 30 inches in diameter. If a ball is too large, the roots will 

 be inadequate to hold the eoil together and the ball may break 

 apart when the tree is moved. 



The ball of soil for evergreens is determined by the height 

 of the plant rather than by the diameter of the trunk. Evergreens 

 11-2-2 feet high need a ball 12 inches in diameter. For each addi- 

 tional foot in height, up to 10 feet, the ball diameter is increased 

 2 inches. For each additional foot in height above 10 feet the 

 diameter is increased IV2 inches. 



Before digging is started, remove any loose soil above the 

 roots. Then make a circle around the plant approximately 6 

 inches beyond the anticipated diameter of the finished ball. Cut 

 the roots to a depth of approximately 12 inches by inserting a 

 spade at the marked circle with the back side of the spade to- 

 ward the tree. Using a sharp spade will result in clean cuts which 

 heal rapidly. Next, dig a trench outside and adjacent to the 

 marked circle and about three-fourths the desired depth of the 

 ball, which is usually 10-16 inches. 



Trim the ball to proper size and shape with the spade, 

 keeping the back side of the spade toward the tree. Round off 

 the trimmed ball at the top edge and taper it inward toward the 

 base (Fig. 11). Avoid loosening the soil around roots by cutting 

 small roots with a sharp spade and large roots with hand or 

 lopping shears. Next, undercut the ball of soil at an angle of 

 about 45 degrees to sever any remaining roots and to loosen the 

 ball from the soil beneath. 



To prevent drying, cracking, and crumbling of soil, wrap the 

 ball tightly with burlap. Balls up to 15 inches in diameter can be 

 completely covered with burlap. One method is to tip the ball and 

 place a piece of rolled burlap under half of the ball. Then tip the 



