Planting trees and shrubs

Deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs can be planted in either spring or fall.Deciduous plants can be moved in the spring, as soon as the frost is out of the ground, or at any time until the new foliage is partly unfurled.In the fall, they can be planted from the time the leaves start to turn color until the soil freezes.Although all trees and shrubs can be moved during either season, those with soft wood (such as poplars, willows, or birches) become established better if they are moved in the spring.Evergreens should be moved earlier in the fall than deciduous plants.They need to be in their new location at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes, so that they can form new roots.In the spring they can be planted up to 4 weeks after deciduous trees have opened their leaves, provided they receive adequate water. DIGGING THE PLANTAlthough you will usually be concerned with planting trees and shrubs purchased from a nursery, you may occasionally have to transplant plants within your garden.When you dig up a plant, retain as much of the root system as possible.Deciduous plants that have been growing for only 3 or 4 years may be moved with their roots bare.Those that have been in place for a long time, and all evergreen plants, can be successfully moved only if a ball of soil is left around the roots.After digging, protect the exposed roots with moist burlap or newspaper or with polyethylene sheeting. PREPARING THE HOLEDig the new hole large enough to take the root system without crowd- ing or folding the roots.Allow about 15 cm of space on all sides of a plant with bare roots or a small root ball.If the plant has a large root 212