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 “contractors” 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 roots 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 tree 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 about 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. 
