Evening star., 1951-09-02
Moving an Evergreen
Tieing, Trenching and Removal Methods
Explained for Best Results in .TronspIonting
By Wilbur H. Younemon

Younemon
The ball being securely tied, the
next step is to get the balled tree
out of the hole. This is easily
accomplished by tipping the tree
toward one edge Of the hole and
filling in. the hole bit. The tree
is then tipped to the opposite side
of the hole and more dirt shoveled
in. This operation is repeated
until the hoie is filled and the
tree is sitting on top, without
any heavy lifting. II the ball
were smaller two or more men
might lift it. but the hole has
to be filled anyway.
If the balled trees are not too
heavy, they may be tipped into
the wheelbarrow and wheeled toI
the new hole. This is ac-I
complished by tipping the Wheel
barrow on its side against the
balled tree. The tree is tipped
into the barrow and righted. The
ball should be tied securely so as
not to tip in moving.
If the balled tree is too large
for wheelbarrow it may be
pushed onto a small wooden plat
form-an old door makes an eX-
cellent conveyance. With 4 to 81
long planks for tracks, a few 3 or
4-foot pieces of pipe for rollers
a. heavy balled tree can be moved
quite a distance without serious
exertion. A short pole or crow
bar is used to push the loaded
platform along the wooden track.
The digging of the new hole for
the balled tree is important since
the care exercised will have much
to do with the health and subse-
quent growth of the tree. Ger
tainly after digging with great
care it would be foolish to dump
it into a poorly prepared hole.
Sod Bottom or The Hole.
The hole should be a foot or
more wider than the ball and at
least 2 inches deeper. Measure the
ball to get the dimensions Of the
hole. The sod and topsoil are put
in one pile-preferably on an old
piece of canvas or burlap and the
subsoil on another. The Sods and
topSoil are spread upon the bottom
of the hole and a bit of bonemeal
"a pint is ample. and if the soil is
sandy, some compost. All of this is
chopped up and then leveled. An
other measurement Is taken-theI
depth. 1t should not be about the
same as the ball of the earth on
the tree. Check this measurement
SO that once the ball is placed It'll
will not need to be removed. Have
the top of the ball slightly above
or just level with the surface of
the ground. (Hemlocks and hollieSI
should rest in a depression, juni-
perS on a very slight mound-after
settling).
The ball is slid into the hole
and turned so as to face the prop
er direction-the marker makes
this possible without untieing. The
hole is partially filled and then the
tree is carefully checked to see
that it is upright. The burlap is
then loosened and may be partial
ly removed. 1t also may be pushed
down and left to rot. The soil is
then thoroughly wet-fill the hole
with water and allow to settle,
then finish adding the soil which
should be enriched with compost
or peatmosS. After the filling is
completed a ridge of soil should be
left in a circle at the outer edge
of the hole. This will facilitate
watering, usually necessary if the
trees are moved at the proper sea-
son-late August to mid-Septem-
ber. AS a final step the cords hold
ing the branches are removed.
Tall trees should be guyed to
prevent whipping about in winter
winds. Later on, the area under
the tree may be deeply mulched
to prevent the soil from freezing
This permits the roots to function
late into the winter. A windbreak
may be erected on the south and
west side of the trees to cut off
winter sun and wind which might
take more moisture from the
leaves than the roots can supply.
In the spring, mulch the area
under the tree with well rotted
manure.
Pruning for Root Loss.
The above experience relates to
moving evergreens as it should
be done but, emphasis was placed
upon the normal season. How
ever, by using the extra care it
may be done at any season of the
year, with the one possible excep-
tion-when the trees are covered
with tender new growth. BY doing
a thorough job, such as outlined.
the loss of trees will be less than
10 per cent.
Of course, the size of the ball
of earth taken will vary with the
size of the tree. A 2-foot ever
green will need a ball of approxi-
mately 10 inches in diameter. Also,
trees with compact root systems
do not require as large a ball as
a tree that has not been root
pruned in several years.
If there is any question as to
the proportion of the roots lost in
digging the tree, it should be
pruned, removing sufficient twigs