~~tM&itittitt & VAOI Af1 A j rvMVpn17 V'flMP.CL'D'q <iTflOfRLDTW7T?4T(I AV A- 10Q JIA VVm. ACC AARh,~4 Steps to follow when planting -a deciduous tree BY VERONICA COLANGELO Deciduous trees are those trees that tose their teaves in the faIt. Now is an excellent time Wo plant sucb trees. Before y ou do go out and purchase your tree, bowever, tbink carefulty about where you are going to locate IL. Find out how large the tree will be at maturity and take this inWo consideration when you plant it. one of the biggest nudstakes people make is ptanting trees too close Wo their homes. A drive down any suburban sstreet wiIt prove the point. Once the tree' location has been chosen, the soit sbould be prepared before the tree is planted. Some trees will grow in heavy clay, but most don't like it and therefore it. is wise Wo enricb the soit that the tree witt grow in. Start by digging a bote targe enough Wo accommodate the tree's root batt comfortabty and deep enougb so that it witl be at the sanie tevet it was wben growing in the nursery. If the soit is beavy, work in a mixture'of hatf top soit and hatf composted manure or peat moas tW a depth of about six inches at the botk of the bote. Depending on the size of the tree it witt either be in a plastic or pa container or it witt be a balted and burtapped' specimen, that is, one wbose rmots have been CLAK POPETYMAINTENANCE _______Design, Installation & Mai ntenance- Compete Landscape Services FREE FREE MOTHER'S DAY wrapped in burlap. The larger trees are more likely to be wrapped in burtap. You should plant your new tree, as soon as possible after you get it from the nursery. The best time Wo plant a deciduous tree is when it's dormant and no teafing out bas occurred. Container grown trees bowever, may be planted at any time of the year. Lower the tree into the hote and spread the roots out. Shovet soit in and around the root bal and tramp the soit down firmty. It is criticat that the roots are fimrly against the soit so that tbey are not surrounded, by air pokets which will cause theni to dry out. When the bole is about haîf fult of soit, a generous quantity of water should be added. Finish adding soit until it is about tevel with where the tree was growing in the nursery, and water tboroughty. It's a good idea Wo use a transplant fertilizer at this time (10-52-10) wýhich wilt help the roots off the a quicker start. The tree sbould be pruned and staked the sanie day that it is planted. A strong stake seven or eight feet long should be used to keep the young tree froni being tossed around by the wind and possibly breaking. Drive the stake into the ground close to the tree and well below the root systeni. Take care flot to injure the bark of the tree. Old pieces of garden hose are an ideal way of protecting the bark. Wire can be slipped through the hose and cannot damage the tree. Because the tree has experienced a fair bit of shock in the digging, moving and transplanting operation, its root system will likely have been to some extent injured. In order to allow the roots to recover, prunng away some of the tree's b ranches will eut down on the area of transpiration. You cen remove any broken branches or any that are crossmgé. Do not, however, remove the tree's leader. This can resuit in a stunted specimen. No more than one-third the tree's branches should be removed. .Keep the soit around the newly planted tree cutltivated. Mulching around the tree will belp maintain moisture in the soit and keep down the weeds and gras that migbt compete, with the tree roots. Once a tree is well established, grass can be grown right up to the tree's trunk with no problem. Planting a deciduo us tree t'. STAý à -n eý $oRmec x -a4j( NeT PA'iw.E c -,fD ý,LOM ýçuý cec'Ã