Evening star., 1940-04-06
Tree Roots
Must Not
Dry Out
Soil Preparation
Also Important
When Planting
BY THE MASTER GARDENER.

Success in planting trees Is large
ly a matter Of keeping the tree from
drying out through exposure OF
roots and tops to sun and wind;
thorough preparation of the soil
making sure it contains sufficient
nourishment for the young tree;
proper flrming of the soil about
the roots and an adequate supply
OF moisture while the tree is be-
coming established.
To avoid drying Of the roots,
keep them covered at all times with
damp burlap sack, prior to
planting.
If it is possible to do so, work the
ground previous to the date of
planting and allow it to settle. The
size of the hole to be dug will de-
pend on the size of the root sys-
tenn, but always be sure it is a gen.
erous size, and dig the hole with
perpendicular sides-never saucer
shaped. Usually, it should be dug
half again as wide and twice as deep
as is necessary to accommodate the
roots. Under no circumstances
should they be cramped. If drain
age is not good, remove an extra
10 inches of soil and place in the
bottom of the hole layer of coarse
gravel or sand.
The amount of plant food to use
depends upon the size of the tree.
Use one pound of complete plant
food for a hole approximately
feet in diameter. Vary the amount
proportionately for smaller and
larger trees, depending upon the
size OF hole required to acccommo-
date them. Provide about inches
Of loose soil in the bottom of the
hole and mix one-half of the plant
food with this soil Next cut off
all bruised or broken roots, Just
about the place of injury, and
shorten any roots that are extra
long, using sharp knife or sharp
pruning shears. Now set the tree
in the hole, at such depth that
when the hole is filled, the tree will
be planted an inch or so deeper
than it stood in the nursery, as
indicated by the soil line. Spread
the roots out naturally and fill half
the hole with soil to which no plant
food has been added, working the
soil down among the roots with the
fingers. Then shake the tree up
and down to settle the dirt about
the roots. Tread the soil firmly
when the hole is half full. Now ap-
ply the balance of the plant food
to the remaining soil and continue
filling the hole with this mixture.
Be sure that the plant food is mixed
thoroughly with the soil as recon-
mended, and see that no plant food
is contained in the soil that i'm
mediately surrounds the roots. Pack
the soil firmly about the tree-the
lighter the soil, the harder the
tamp. Now water thoroughly in
order to saturate the roots and set
tie the soil. When the water has
completely soaked into the soil. fill
the hole with loose soil to the sur
face level. This loose soil acts as
a mulch to retain the moisture.
Allow the surface to slope slightly
toward the tree to collect moisture.
AS soon as a tree is planted,
either in spring or fall, wrap the
trunk of the tree with strips of
some suitable material-either bur-
lap or some type of paper-from the
ground to the first limb, to protect
the bark from sunscald and pre-
vent infestation with borers.
Water young trees during the
summer months, until we'll estab-
lished, and watch them carefully
for insects.