190 SUBURBAN GARDENS 
on top as a dust mulch to retain moisture. 
This completes the actual planting; the sea- 
son of the year will determine whether or not 
anything further must be done. If it is spring- 
time, this is enough, but if it is fall a mulch of 
straw or leaves eight inches deep or more must 
be made ready to cover the entire area dis- 
turbed as soon as frost enters the ground. 
This must be retained by branches or loose 
light sticks laid over it, until frost finally leaves 
again, in the spring; and instead of watering 
the plant again later, keep this there by tilling 
lightly. 
Planting may be done either in spring or fall, 
with but few exceptions. Cone-bearing ever- 
greens are not usually handled at either season, 
however, August and early September being 
the accepted time for moving these. The 
broad-leaved evergreens such as rhododen- 
drons are most successfully moved in the 
spring; and thin barked trees such as the birch 
or beech are likely to suffer when shifted at any 
other time. Personally I prefer fall for all 
other general planting, owing to the more 
settled weather conditions which prevail, and 
the even temperature and warmth of the soil 
at that season. In places where severe winters 
are the rule it is not advisable, however, 
