PLANTING SUGGESTIONS 
The life and growth of a tree or shrub depends as much on 
how it is planted and cared for later, as on how well it is grown in 
the nursery and how carefully delivered to you. We want every 
plant sold by us to grow satisfactorily, so we are interested in 
having you give it the best possible care after it leaves us. 
One essential is to get the plant back into the ground as soon 
after it is dug as possible. It is very important that a tree’s 
roots be kept covered and moist from the time that it is dug until 
it is planted again, so if several hours or days must elapse before 
you can plant your trees you should “heel them in.” “Heeling in” 
is simply temporarily covering the roots with moist soil in a hole 
or trench. 
Dig all the holes for your plants plenty big and loosen up 
the soil in the bottom. A good rule is that “the harder the 
hole is to dig the larger it needs to be.” This is so that new 
roots will have plenty of loose soil to get started in. If you 
run into poor soil, plaster, lime, or rubbish when digging holes 
around a building, it is imperative to remove it all and replace 
with good soil. Thousands of shrubs planted around buildings, 
which do not flourish, are the victims of “contractor’s” soil, 
rather than being poor nursery stock. 
In planting place loose dirt carefully around the roots of 
each plant as it is held in position in the hole, spreading the 
I'oots out in as natural a position as possible. Most shrubs and 
trees do best when planted at about the same depth as they were 
in the nursery. 
If you can water with a hose, work it, with the nozzle off, 
down through the loose dirt to the bottom of the hole and soak 
the soil from the bottom up. This settles the loose soil thoroughly 
around the roots, which is very essential. Water again within 
a few days, from the surface, with a slow stream. After this, 
water only when the ground starts to dry out, but very thoroughly 
each time. BE SURE THAT THE WATER ACTUALLY SOAKS 
DOWN TO THE LOWEST ROOTS. A thorough watering every 
one to three weeks is of more benefit than a sprinkling each day. 
Do not expect new plants to do well if the soil in which they 
are planted is filled with tiee roots. Poplars, Willows, and Soft 
Maples are the worst offenders in this, and will sap the soil of 
moisture and food for a distance usually greater than their height. 
Learn the habits of the trees and shrubs that you get and plant 
them where they will have the conditions which they like as to 
sun, soil, and moisture. 
The tops of all shrubs and trees should be cut back one-third 
when they are transplanted. It is sometimes an unpleasant job 
to cut off part of a nicely-shaped plant, but it usually will 
assure a larger and more vigorous plant before fall. Some roots 
must necessarily be cut when a plant is dug, and if the whole 
top is left on, it tries to draw more food and water from the 
soil than the shortened root system can supply. 
We are rather fussy about digging our plants with an extra 
proportion of roots, and try to keep all these roots alive until they 
reach you, so that there is the least possible shock to the plant. 
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