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Outdoor Problems of the Householder: Trees

The presence of free water, especially in clay soils, tends to cause the earth to puddle or cake. And this tends to shut off the supply of oxygen from the roots. Why Trees Die. -The fear of losing trees from transplanting doubtless deters many persons from attempting this most attractive kind of permanent improvements. There is a kind of mystery about the death of some trees, while others planted at the same time thrive prosperously.

A study of some of the more common reasons for the death of trees will usually reveal the cause. It will show that such losses can be prevented by the use of ordinary care. Chief among these are exposure of the roots before planting, failure to plant properly, or the effects of overwet soil or drouth. The need for great care to avoid injury to the rootlets and exposure to sun and dry air has been emphasized. Failure to pack the soil tightly about the roots is a common error. This not only leaves the tree unstable, it partially prevents the rootlets from absorbing nutriment. This they cannot do unless they come into very close contact with the soil. Turf, manure or rubbish of any kind should not be brought into contact with roots.

Only fine loamy soil should be used.

Compact this firmly against the roots by the foot and weight of the body. Another error is false economy of time and labor in digging too small or too shallow holes. Standing water in or about the roots of the trees not only prevents the air from reaching them. It causes the soil to become puddled in the process of planting. When dry it then bakes into a hard lump which excludes the air. Drying out of soil from drouth is always injurious to newly transplanted trees. This may be largely overcome by proper cultivation.

Small trees are frequently injured by stock and other accidents. If standing in exposed locations they should be protected by suitable fencing. If, however, the rules above stated are carefully followed there need be little or no loss from transplanting trees under ordinary conditions. Care of Trees. Even well planted and thrifty young trees sometimes die for lack of proper care. They must be protected against injury from stock and other accident by suitable fencing; and against drouth by irrigation, or other steps to increase the supply of moisture when necessary, and by frequent cultivation to conserve moisture in the soil. Artificial watering is not usually desirable.

But surface water from an adjacent hill can sometimes be conducted to the weeds and grass and conserve soil moisture by maintaining a surface mulch of fine, loose, dry earth.

TREE PROPAGATION BY CUT- TINGS, GRAFTS AND BUDS A tree may reproduce itself either by seeds or buds. Hence a valuable tree or shrub once established may be made to supply as many other specimens as may be desired. Or cuttings, scions, or buds may be exchanged with neighbors, or obtained from them for the asking or at slight expense. Many trees can be propagated by cuttings and nearly all can be grafted and budded.