GETTING READY TO PLANT 
The American landscape often needs beautification because con- 
struction activities, fires, storms, and other disturbances have dam- 
aged or destroyed the vegetation. If vegetation is to be reestablished 
on these sites, extra effort is usually required to make plantings suc- 
cessful. Site preparation provides a more favorable environment for 
the establishment of trees, shrubs, and grasses, and improves chances 
for their survival. In all cases, a clean, firm planting bed with good 
water relations between plants and soil should be provided. 
Site Factors—Soil, Climate, Vegetation 
A most important consideration in preparing sites for vegetation 
is the soil itself, its physical characteristics which affect soil-water 
and soil-plant relationships, its fertility, and its tendency to erode 
or become unstable. It is often necessary to reduce compacted soil 
conditions which would adversely affect infiltration of water, the 
water-holding capacity, and availability of soil moisture to the plants. 
Another influential factor is climate. Rainfall is the key because 
there must be sufficient moisture for plant growth. Some sites are so 
severe because of exposure and high temperatures that moisture evap- 
orates or runs off before it can be efficiently utilized. For these, sup- 
plementary irrigation will be necessary. Also, root systems of newly 
established plants are short and water must be kept available to them 
if the plants are to survive. 
In site preparation it is also important to eliminate worthless, un- 
desirable vegetation that impedes the establishment of attractive 
plantings in the competition for space, water, and soil nutrients. 
In preparation for seeding to grass and plant- 
ing to streamside trees and shrubs, this erod- 
ing streambank has been graded with tractor 
and dozer. Next steps will be to plant the 
vegetation and tie down the slopes until a 
vegetative cover is established. 
F—506040 
