ORNAMENTAL PLANTING OF TREES AND SHRUBS 115 



TREE PLANTING 



All plantings should be preceded by careful preparation of the 

 soil. Lawn trees are permanent features and as such every detail 

 of the planting should have close attention. This will insure a 

 healthy growth and proper development. 



Holes for trees should be at least a foot wider than the spread of 

 the roots and at least twenty-four inches deep, unless for a large 

 specimen, when it should be proportionately deeper. 



In hea\^ clay soil, where the water is apt to collect and remain, 

 the holes should be dug deep enough to afford good drainage. If 

 the clay extends some depth proper drainage may be insured by 

 placing broken stone in the bottom of the holes. 



Tree holes should be made as large or larger at the bottom than 

 they are at the top (Figs. 10.5 and 106). Too often holes just the 

 reverse are prepared. 



All broken or bruised roots should be cut off clean. 



Holes should be sufficiently large to allow of spreading all roots 

 in a natural position. 



Good soil should be provided for the planting, and very dry and 

 fine soil worked in carefully around the roots and thoroughly tamped 

 so that no spaces remain. 



Avoid planting too deeply (Fig. 107). Trees should be set just 

 a very little lower than they have been growing in the nursery. 



Avoid mounding up right around the stem after planting (Fig. 

 108). When this little hump gets dry and hard it makes a shed 

 for that water which should penetrate to the roots. 



A slight depression is much better and provides a cup for holding 

 the moisture (Fig. 109). After planting, a good mulching over 

 the root areas will conserve the moisture and greatly benefit the 

 tree. 



If the tree is three or five inches or more in caliper set wire 

 stays to keep it straight and to protect against any loosening of the 

 roots (Fig. 110). 



PRUNING 



The tops of all trees should be reduced at least one-third by 

 pruning back when transplanting. This will overcome somewhat 

 the loss of feeding roots and conserve the amount of sap in the trees 

 until new feeding roots are formed. 



