Evening star., 1941-11-08


lished and ready to grow and flower.
Spring planted shrubs, however,
have to draw upon the vitality
stored in their roots and in many
cases this is not sufficient even
though they were stored under the
best of conditions.
The arguments seem to favor fall
planting, but like other rules, there
are exceptions. Shrubs and trees
with thick fleshy roots are best
planted in the spring. just before
they start into active growth. Their
roots heal best at that season. The
tulip poplar. magnolias, azalea,
spicebush (benzoin). butterfly bush
(buddleia), sWeetshrub (calycan-
thus hawthornes, rose of sharon,
sumac, tamariX. Japanese snow
ball, etc, are examples of this group.
Do not plant them in the fall. The
Towering dogwood belongs in this
group, although it is not uncommon
to hear reports of fall paintings
that were successful. While this
discussion relates to deciduouS
shrubs and trees-those that shed
their foliage in the fall-it should
be emphasized that fall transplant
ing is just as successful with ever
greens. both the coniferous and the
broad-leaved, but the proper time is
mid-September and not in Novem-
ber.
The first step in any fall planting
program should be to determine
what is needed This we discussed
last week and it is assumed that you
have prepared a list of the situa-
tions where you are going to plant.
This list does not have the name of
shrubs. trees, but of the particular
uses and a description of the situa-
ton. e., sunny, shady. dry, moist,
etc. and the height and spread de-
sired (ultimate). You are now
ready to take this list to a nursery
man for his recommendations, and
1t is from his suggestions of those
adapted to the particular sites and
staying within the approximate di-
mensions that the final selections
are made
Having selected the kinds and va
rieties then it is only question of
ordering the plants for delivery at
a convenient date. Make this de-
livery time sufficiently far enough
In the future that you will have
ample time in which to prepare the
holes for planting.
In great many cases the planting
OF a tree is considered to be simply
the digging of hole and the plac-
ing of the roots in it. This is hardly
to be recommended. Most of our
soils are deficient in humus. Many
soils lack readily available plant
food. A newly set out shrub needs
the moisture that humus ordinarily
holds for it. The abbreviated root
system cannot reach very far for
moisture or food. 1t would seem
logical then, if we wish our newly
set out shrubs to make fine start,
to give them this small amount Of
care. The humus is more important
than the plant food, and it is for this
reason that liberal quantities of
compost. leaf mold or peat moss
should be thoroughly mixed with
the soil.
A soil we'll supplied with humus
will oftentimes carry plant
through a dry period, whereas one
that lacks this care will die. This
can happen even though water is
given frequently. Lacking in mois-
ture-holding humus, the soil dries
out quickly, and the plants suffer
in spite of our efforts.
In digging a hole for shrub or
tree 1t is common practice to make
It too small Oftentimes the holes
are 50 small that the roots must
be bent to get them into it. The
few additional minutes necessary to
prepare q hole of ample size are