Planting Sticks

Last week our Neighborwood trees arrived at the house. They were out of Monterrey Oaks, so we received a Burr Oak instead. The trees themselves are little more than sticks, ranging in height from six to eight feet.

I called up the utilities last week and they marked out the places where not to dig (exactly where the TreeFolks said we should plant one of the trees). On Saturday I began digging holes for the trees in kosher locations. I quickly discovered that my top soil is at most eight inches deep and that a spade doesn't make much progress in limestone. When Jennifer wen to Home Depot for potting soil and mulch I asked her to bring back a pick ax. She also brought back a digging bar which was recommended to her. It's a way cool 17lb hunk of steel with a pointy and a chiselly end and it worked wonders on the limestone (and made my shoulders ache the next day).

Yesterday afternoon we actually planted the trees. This went much faster than digging holes, but I had to make another trip to HD to pick up more soil and mulch (which we didn't actually need) and to return the pick ax. We now have three saplings in our front yard all emplanted and mulched. I'm counting on at least two of them making it, so wish us best luck.