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D8 GeorgetownActon April Plant a living fence to beautify yard A hedge can be an attractive asset to your property but does require your time and fort to maintain its beauty If you choose to plant a hedge on your property select a type and species that suits your needs says Ex tension Horticulturist Burke McNeill ario Ministry of and Food soils and crops branch Milton Ont Siberian elm pumila for ex ample can be a good hedge plant if you are prepared to prune it very frequently and if the root system does not interfere with your plans for the rest of the yard On the other hand white cedar Thuja den talis can be maintained with a minimum of effort and has a fairly confined root system Many types of hedges are available and almost any tree or shrub can be pruned into hedge if you desire something out of the ordinary But shrubtype plants with small leaves are usually best Privets Siberian elm and many of the ever greens are a few of the most papular types Cost of plants and the length of the hedge you require will also dictate the type you select Most nurseries now produce transplanted slock for hedging These plants are larger and satisfy the desire of many gardeners to own a goodsized hedge in the first year But if you are not in a hurry choose seedl ing plants Theseareexcellentforstartinga hedge coat much less have a better chance of survival and will grow much faster Planting distance is to GO centimetres inches to inches apart but you may plant closer together or further apart as you wish But in is generally the ideal distance for most hedge plants The rateof growth and the ultimate size of the species you select is also an Important factor here McNeill says Boxwood should be planted about 30 cm 12 in apart while Siberian elm can be planted GO cm in apart to produce a good tight hedge in the shortest period of time When planting hedge plants follow the same procedure as for any other tree or shrub Prepare the soil by adding peat moss or manure or replace the soil with new top soil Apply fertilizer if required either before the soil Is prepared or after planting is completed never place fertilizer in the hole or trench next to the roots Water WEVE MADE LITTLE PRICES OUT OF BIG ONES 8hpiotnuT 1B20 8 IMF 11 lip 1789 HAZEMS 55 Sinclair Ave 8773473 thoroughly after planting is completed If a deciduous hedge plant is used prune back to a uniform height of 30 cm 12 in to cm 16 in immediately after planting This encourages the plants to thicken out at the base and reduces the amount of foliage so that the root system has a better chance of developing Evergreens should not be pruned back as much as deciduous plants simply shorten the tops to provide a more uniform height he says After planting lender loving care is all that is required Keep the plants free of weeds and water well during penods of hot dry weather in the first growing season In most cases little pruning will be re the first year Shaping can begin in second year Put down rootsplant a tree Georgetown Spring and fall arc stilt the most satis factory times to plant a tree says Extension Horticulturist Burke McNeill of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and rood s soils and crops branch Milton Out Today trees are sold with their roots bound in burlap so they can be planted throughout the growing season But planting in midsummer requires special care and often the results are not quite as satis factory as planting during the dormant spr ing and fall period Choosing the proper site for your tree is important Be sure the site Is compatible with the species of tree to be planted For example white birch trees require moist cool soil and should be planted on the northor east sldeof your property Avoid planting your tree too close to pro perty line aspeciesthatdropsseeds fruits or leaves on your neighbor property could cause hard feelings Watch for overhead too which could obstruct the trees growth Prepare your site by digging a hole slightly larger and deeper than the root system on the tree to be planted Use new topsoil around the roots to back fill the hole Excellent results can also be achieved by mixing some of the existing soil in ratio with peat moss Take special care to place soil completely around the roots to avoid air pockets from forming and impeding root development Soak the area well after planting to help settle the soil around the roots and eliminate a it pockets After planting it is wise to stake your tree particularly If it Is more than 175 centi metres six feet high If your tree is not secured the wind will rock the tree back and forth breaking off the new roots as they attempt to attach themselves to the sur rounding soil Once these steps have been taken tender loving care is all that is needed Water your tree well once a week keep weeds and grass away from the base at least for the first J ear and remove any dead or broken ranches Check the ties used for staking and loosen these off as the tree grows Otherwise the ties if not expansible can girdle the tree and cause to break off If a tree does not survive transplanting It is usually because the roots have not regenerated Hence the need for all the help you can provide when transplanting