old-fashioned garden tips/tricks:
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Moving Large Tree |
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Index of tips
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The arrangement illustrated is very simple, and a
big tree may thus be taken up and replanted. First dig around the tree,
preferably when ground is frozen; don't injure the roots by going too near;
take up a large clump of dirt. Place connecting piece of the standards
against the tree, to which fasten with ropes, winding a cloth around to
prevent barking the tree. One or two horses hitched to the rope will easily
raise the tree with ball of earth, and swing it on to the waiting
stone-boat, on which you may haul it to the planting place. There dig a hole
sufficiently big, set the tree, and fill and ram the earth securely into
place. Then trim the tree branches a little–to make up for any roots lost in
the moving operating. If the situation is exposed to severe winds, it may be
necessary to anchor the tree for several years. This can best be done with
guy ropes, being careful to protect the bark from chafing. Also, it may be
necessary to water the tree several times during the first one or two
summers. How To Do
Things (The Farm Journal) - 1919
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Transplanting Large Trees.
by Charles Wyllys Elliott, New-Haven, CT |
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There are many places which would
be benefited by the presence of a few large trees; whose owners would gladly
spend some money to see trees growing near their dwellings, which should
give, not only shade, but should clothe them with a leafy garment to hide
their nakedness. What a difference there is between a house—no matter how
well proportioned and tasteful—standing upon a bare plane or an exposed
hill, and one covered and sheltered by protecting arms of shadowy trees,
every lover of home and the country has too often felt. It is not always
possible to choose a site which is furnished with these, and other desirable
circumstances; so that trees must be supplied by the owner, and he and they
must bide their time. But there are two ways at least of going about this.
One is, to contract with some enterprising early rising man of the
neighborhood, to plant out a number, perhaps one or two hundred, say at
fifty cents each, or even sixty cents, should he warrant them to grow. He
goes to his swamp, where the trees run up tall and straight, and selects
nice, handsome stems, about four inches in diameter, and say twenty-five
feet in height; he takes his axe and cuts down into the shaky bog, through
the four or five roots of the tree, at twelve to fifteen inches from the
stem, pulls the tree down to the ground, cuts off the whole of the head, say
at about ten feet from the root, and the tree is then ready to be loaded
into a cart for planting on any gentleman's place. He does this again and
again; and it is quick work, for there are usually but a few long naked
roots in such covers, and the labor of getting trees up is small. Having
loaded them, they are ready for transportation the next day. Now in spring
and autumn the nights are apt to be frosty—and should the roots be exposed
to a pretty severe freezing, it would not be surprising. But let them once
be delivered on the naked grounds. What then? It is easiest to plant them in
rows—and saves all thought and consultation either on the part of the owner
or a landscape gardener. The planter is to have fifty cents each, and he
can't spend his time shilly-shallying; so he opens the holes twenty-five
inches in diameter, (or thirty-one inches) because twice 12 is 24, and
twenty-five inches is large enough—and it may be twelve inches deep to the
subsoil, which is usually hard and sterile; he place3s the roots in it,
taking great care that the stem is perpendicular and true in the line; then
he covers the roots quickly to keep them from the air, tramples the earth,
and the deed is done,—the tree planted.
How does the tree grow? Sometimes well. Elms are especially
tenacious of life; often though, they push weak growth along the stem the
first season, for there is some strength in it, and dwindle away during the
summer drouth or in the second year. Should they grow they are long in
making a head; for trees are like men, starvation, neglect, want of
cultivation—inevitably induce weakness, disease and death.
This is one method of planting:—there is another, and the routine
of planting a single tree, one of a number which has been planted and have
thriven now the third year, will suffice.
1. A hole to receive the tree was opened in the month of October,
sixteen feet in diameter and three feet deep. All the tops and good soil,
containing some of the yellow subsoil, was thrown out by itself—the subsoil,
gravel, &c., was thrown up and carted away, and other earth brought in its
place. A horse cart load of rotten stable manure, and five bushels of ashes,
were well mixed with about one half of the good soil, and about one foot of
depth of this compost was spread over the bottom of the hole, which was then
ready to receive the roots of the tree.
2. The tree selected was an elm, standing in a damp wood, but so
that the head was well branched. At the distance of five feet from the body,
(which measure forty-two inches in circumference at one foot from the
ground,) a trench was opened two feet wide; the long roots were not cut, but
the trench was sunk so that the tree could be gradually undermined, and with
a pick the soil was dug away from among the roots so that the diameter of
the ball of earth was about eight feet; while the digging was continued
under the roots as far as it was possible, the fibrous roots being tied up
so as to be but little broken. This done, the long surface roots were
followed out, say ten or twelve feet from the tree, cut off, turned up, and
tied to the stem. A block and tackle, fastened in the top of this tree, and
to the root of one at some distance, was use to pull the tree over to an
angle of 45°, and a stone sled was placed so
that one half of the ball would rest on it—the tree was then turned into it,
and another sled placed under the ball. The side of the trench was then cut
away so that the sleds would run out of the hole; ten yoke of oxen were
chained to the sleds, and a chain was carried from around the stem to the
draft chain, so that the tree might not slip from the sleds. The tree was
then quietly slid from its old place and into its new one—the side of the
new hole being cut down so that the oxen could travel through the hole and
leave the tree, sleds and all, in it. The tree was then turned down first on
one side, then on another; and both sleds being removed, it was ready to
have its roots placed and covered. This was carefully done by turning the
tree from the perpendicular, and filling in with the hand and a wooden
rammer, every cavity in the roots, with the compost earth—the bruised and
mangled roots being first cut away with a knife or axe. The tree was planted
one foot deeper than it stood in the woods. The long roots were
stretched and pegged down to act as anchors, and the hole being then filled
with the common earth—so far the roots were disposed of.
Three strong props were then securely placed so that they could not
chafe the bark, or allow the tree to be disturbed by winter or summer
winds—and then the autumn work was done.
3. In the spring, about first May, the top was lopped, thinned from
one-third to one-half, just as the buds were breaking vigorously. The ground
over the surface of the hole was mulched, (covered with manure four inches
deep;) the props were examined, the tree righted, and then it took its
chance. Once during the dry weather of the summer, some twenty-five buckets
of water were poured over the roots.
The cost of the tree in its place was thirty dollars, it having
been moved a quarter of a mile—and it is worth the cost. It, with others,
now stands on Mr. Saml. E. Foster's place, at New-Haven, where it promises
well.
5.* Better roots can be had by this process than by cutting a ball
and freezing it—because the roots need not be cut so short.
6. The tree should be planted deeper than in the wood, for many
reasons.
7. The props are very important for two years at least, as the
swaying of the tree in the wind would otherwise break the young new roots.
8. One-half the top may be cut away safely. Mr. Jas. Fellows, who
has planted large trees with success, in this neighborhood, thinks that
none should be cut away; he and I don't agree.
9. Mulching is one of the very best practices—and so is watering
the leaves in dry weather, with a barrel of water and a hand engine.
The above tree was the largest of some twenty-five which were
removed in this way, three years since. They have grown as well as such
large trees could be expected to grow, and but two have died; one large Elm,
which was raised with roots much broken and one swamp White Oak. The trees
were mostly Elm, Oak, and Dog-wood, and were from twelve to forty-two inches
in circumference. Since then, Mr. Fellows, in this neighborhood, has planted
a great number of large trees, with good success. It is quite clear that
trees of great size can be safely removed and planted, so as to grow. Two
large Hickorys were planted out this year by this method; they have both
gone through this season well, and may yet thrive in their new
position—though they are not a safe tree to touch.
Charles Wyllys Elliott.
New-Haven, Aug. 15, 1852 |
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from THE HORTICULTURIST, and Journal of Rural
Art and Rural Taste.
Vol. VII. No. X October 1852 |
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* I don't know if
there was a step 4 that was omitted or if the steps were just misnumbered. |
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