J\ionticello Nursery Co., Monticello, Florida 
How to Plant Balled and 
Burlapped Plants 
Our B&B. Plants are easy to set out. Dig the 
hole about 6 inches greater in diameter than the 
ball of earth, and about the same depth. Set 
the plant, burlap and all, in the hole, and use 
thoroughly pulverized top-soil to fdl in about 
half way. Then cut the string holding the burlap 
at the top and turn the top part of the burlap 
down into the hole. Finish filling to within 
about an inch of ground-level, then soak the 
soil down thoroughly around the ball. After one 
lot of water soaks in, give it another watering. 
Also make a small bank of earth about 12 inches 
from the plant all around so that you have a 
saucer-shaped place slanting in toward the plant 
to keep the water in, and going toward the roots. 
Keep the plants watered about three times a 
week until they are starting into growth, and 
then, during the first season if there is a long dry 
spell and the leaves start to wilt, water them 
some more. In most of our southeastern soils 
plenty of water on newly planted plants is the 
best insurance of a good live. Also watering 
must be thorough, and slowly enough to let the 
water soak down as deep as the roots go. Just 
sprinkling the top does more harm than good. 
A mulch of leaves around the plants helps to 
keep the moisture in and the soil from crusting 
on top, and is to be recommended. 
How to Plant Bare-Rooted 
Plants and Trees 
Trees lose part of their root system in trans¬ 
planting, and it is best to cut part of the top 
back to balance up. The hole for planting should 
be dug deep enough and wide enough to accom¬ 
modate the roots without cramping them. Side 
roots should be spread out in a natural position 
and not packed downward. Any broken roots 
should be pruned off, and the ends of any roots 
that are bruised should also be pruned back 
slightly. You can see where the soil-line on the 
tree is, and the trees should be set from 3^ to 
1 inch lower than this soil-line. Use good top¬ 
soil, finely pulverized, in filling in. Put in some 
soil, then work it around the roots, keeping the 
side roots out sideways and not packing them 
downward. Pack the soil firmly around the 
roots when you put it in. When the hole is filled 
to within 2 to 3 inches of the top, fill it with 
water and let it soak down. Do this two or 
three times until you are sure the soil is thor¬ 
oughly saturated to the bottom of the hole. 
Then, fill up the hole nearly to the ground-level 
with loose soil, and do not pack this. 
Proper distances for planting 
Satsuma Oranges.18 to 20 ft. each way 
Peaches.18 to 20 ft. each way 
Japan Persimmons.15 to 20 ft. each way 
Pears.25 to 30 ft. each way 
Pecans.50 to 60 ft. each way 
Fertilizing 
Almost any plant will do better if given a 
balanced fertilizer. Commercial fertilizer 5-7-5 
formula is good on most garden shrubs, trees, and 
fruit and nut trees. This should be applied about 
the middle of March, or if the plants are set late 
in the spring, about two months after the plants 
have been set out. In this case plants set in 
March would be fertilized in May after the new 
roots had started to grow. The amount of 
fertilizer required varies with the size of the 
plant. A half pound per plant on the average 
2 to 3-foot plants would be about right. Keep 
the fertilizer out about 6 inches to a foot from 
the trunk of the tree or plant, scatter it on top 
of the soil, and water it in. 
Azaleas and Camellias require a different 
fertilizer, and cotton-seed meal is a very good 
one for them. This is usually applied twice a 
season—right after they finish blooming and 
again the latter part of June or the first of July. 
These two species need a slightly acid soil, and 
the regular commercial fertilizer, usually on the 
alkaline side, is not suitable. A mulch of leaves 
should be kept around Azaleas and Camellias 
all the time, and they should not be hoed or 
worked around at any time. Any grass or weeds 
should be pulled by hand. 
Frotscher Pecan. See page 27 
28 
Stuart Pecan. See page 27 
