Planting Balled anti Burlapped 
Evergreens 
B 
ALLED and burlapped” means 
that the tree is dug from the nur¬ 
sery soil with the earth remaining 
undisturbed about the roots of the tree. The 
earth ball is securely wrapped in burlap and 
tied with stout rope. The tops of all except 
the small trees are tied up to prevent injury 
to the branches. This method practically 
insures safe handling and very little shock 
to the tree in moving. 
Be sure to set the boxes out of sun and 
wind. 
It is advisable to plant your Evergreens as 
soon as they are received. If impossible to 
do this, they will keep for several days in 
good condition if earth balls are kept wet. 
If unable to plant at once, submerge each 
earth ball in a tub of water for a few minutes. 
Then stand the trees in a place out of the 
wind. 
Leave the limbs tied up and the burlap on 
the roots until after the trees are planted. 
Dig the holes wide and deep enough easily 
to admit the earth ball. Set the tree straight 
and two inches deeper than it stood in the 
Nursery. (You can tell by the soil line on the 
stem.) Tamp the dirt in firmly, bearing 
your whole weight to pack it in 
tight. Leave the burlap around 
the earth ball, but cut the string 
and lay back the burlap as shown 
in sketch. (The burlap helps to 
anchor the tree and soon rots 
away.) When the hole is two- 
thirds filled, flood with water and 
then draw in enough loose dirt to 
mound up the hole and form a 
mulch. 
After the tree is planted, un¬ 
wind the string from top and care¬ 
fully straighten out the branches. 
Suggestions for Watering 
T HE thing to bear in mind in watering 
Evergreens is this: See that the roots 
are kept moist. There is no rule 
which we can lay down that will guarantee 
this result, as can well be seen. In the first 
place, the amount of rainfall which may 
normally be depended upon in many locali¬ 
ties, the condition of the soil, that is, whether 
it is a type of soil that retains moisture or 
not, and the amount of cultivation which is 
given, all have a bearing on results. 
It is also quite evident that after the trees 
become better established and the roots 
extend down into the soil, they become more 
independent of surface moisture and can 
withstand considerable drought. 
In the north central states, the months of 
June, July, August and September is the 
period of the year when vegetation requires 
artificial means for watering. When watering 
becomes a necessity do not water every day, 
but at intervals of a week or ten days. A 
thorough soaking twice a month is far more 
beneficial than a daily sprinkling of the top 
soil. A small amount of water applied direct¬ 
ly on top of the ground is liable to cause the 
roots to grow upward to seek this small 
amount of moisture rather than downward 
as they should when thoroughly soaked. 
See page 45 for information on fertiliz¬ 
ing. 
43 
