The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-08-13
Trans2lanting Trees
HE transplanting Of tree, whether
~ ha

] it be small or large, usually checks
its growth, and while this check is
not always detrimental, yet it usually
reduces the total growth for the sue.
ceeding two or three years. This general
check is caused by the loss of roots
which takes place in digging the trees.
1t matters little how carefully tree
may be dug, it will suffer severe loss
OF roots and in many cases from one
half to three fourths of its entire root
system, and practically all of its feed
ing roots will be lost. 1t is impossi.
bic to exercise too much care in the
digging and transplanting of trees and
especially in dry or severe climates.
The time or season of the year for
transplanting deciduors trees is gov
erned by the development of the tree,
the condition of the soil and the wealth
ed that is apt to follow transplanting.
Many trees may be successfully trans
planted at any time during their dor
mant or leafeless period, while others
require that transplanting be done at
certain seasons of the year. If the
trees are fully matured, the soil moist,
not wet, and the winters not too severe,
one may feel safe in fall planting. If
the soil is wet and poorly prepared and
the trees are not well ripened off, it
is safer to plant in early spring.
Deciduous trees should be planted
from one to two inches deeper than they
grew in the nursery.
Thoroughly pulverized, moist earth
should be worked in among the roots
until the hole is about half full, and
then this earth should be tamped until
it is solid. The tamping of earth around
the roots of the trees is one of the most
important features of transpIanting
trees.
Water may be applied to the hole
either the day before the trees are plant
ed or after the hole is half full of earth,
but if the soil is moist it is usually best
not to use any water. The upper half
of the soil that is filled with the hole
may be left loose or lightly tamped,
and the surface left loose and finely
pulverized This will serve as mulch
as well as take up any water that may
fall on the surface.
Evergreen trees are more difficult to
transplant successfully than deciduous
trees, but if the proper time be selected,
the trees properly handled while they are
out of the ground, the manner of plant
ing be not too faulty, and tho care they
receive after transplanting be reason
able, one may usually expect success.
With the proper care, an evergreen
tree may be transplanted any month
during the year. Probably tho most
favorable time for transplanting ever
green's is in the spring. Trees trans
planted just after they have started into
growth, start at once to grow and in
many cases do not receive perceptible
shock. Fall planting has been success
fully used in many localities, and where
all conditions are favorable it is a safe
venture.
Large deep holes with plenty of moist
earth in the bottom should be provided
for any tree. During transplantng the
roots must never become dried either by
tho wind or from the sun.
Another very important phase in tree
transplanting is to make the soil very,
very firm around its roots. If the soil
is well prepared and in proper condition,
it is impossible to make it too firm.
Moro newly transplanted evergreens die
on account of the planter failing to
make the soil firm about the roots than
from any other. single cause. This is
the only safe way to exclude the air
from the roots, and unless this is done
failure is sure to follow.