THE PLANTING OF TREES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 25 May 1917, Page 2

THE PLANTING OF TREES

The months of May and June may b» considered the best time- to plant deciduous trees. No arbitrary date can. be fixed because our seasons change somewhat. We have early and late autumns. The fall of the leaf varies according to climatic conditions, and the state of the soil is another factor , which should be taken into considera- ! tion. Whenever the soil and weather' are favorable the right time to transplant the elm, plane, poplar, oak, and other deciduous trees is when xhej are at rest; when the foliage has fallen, or j is withering. • The proper planting of the tree is of great importance. Its roots should be spread out evenly, so that there may bo good anchorage all round; they must

be neither too deep nor too shallow; the soil-mark on the. stem indicates the right depth. In filling in the earth around the roots care must be taken to use fine soil only, so that all' the roots, large and small, shall be cohered; no interstices or hollows must be allowed, and these will occur if coarse,, rough earth be used. The earth shcrftLd- be pressed down firmly with the foot,, and if the soil be dry water should be used to ensure all the roots being eovesed. ShcSild the natural soil be poor a little manure may be mixed with it; but ordy in rase cases is this advised. Well-rotted stable-manure is the best fertiliser; but in its absence use a little bone-dust-When the tree is planted a mulching of som<* kind ig recommended; grass, strawy-manure, or other material may be used. J The preparation of the soil for the reception of the tress is of paramount importance. We do not plant for our own lifetime^, but for that of <our children's children: If the-trees were to last a year only it- would mot be necessary to provide fo» their sastenanese for a century or for half a century. There are occasionally to- be met- witfc deep alluvial soils in which trees will- thrive without any preparation beyond throwing out a noie and sticking: therm in, but very generally it is absolutely nei cessary to well prepare the ground by deep digging or trenching. TrencMng fe expensive work, but it pays in- the long. If an avenue or a single lijse of trees has to be planted, it would- be better to prepare the whole line of the ground rather than to dig a holefibir each tree. By doing so, not oiily Bave> the roots greater feeding ground j But it provides better drainage. If street trees are to planted, the 1 holes for their reception should' not: fe ! Jess than six feet in diameter- by a depth' of at. least three feet. In'planting in a park or field, holes a trifle." smaller than this may be sufficient, but a- good deal depends on tne nature- of-^ the: soil;. in poor ground it is necessary to break up more ground than it wouldbe where the ground is rich. Wn'aU ever depth the hole may be, the bottom of it should be well loosened with' pickaxe or spade. The above notes refer more directly to deciduous trees, but they also apply to many trees which did not shed their foliage.