Planting Arbor Day Mail Order Trees

My trees arrived on Thursday which was the last possible day that I wanted them to arrive.  Thursday night was the Bachelor/Bachlorette auctions for WGirls Milwaukee and I was running late for it was due to traffic, and it was going to be a late night of raising money for the Penfield Children’s Center so it wasn’t going to happen Friday morning.  And Friday afternoon I flew to Montana for Rachel’s graduation. (she is my best sister and leaves me most of the comments on here... let’s face it the whole blog is her idea).  I got back late on Sunday, worked Monday and planned to plant the tree and grapevines that evening.  Now, I did check the weather and it was supposed to storm at midnight (or be storming at midnight- that’s the same thing right?)

I followed the instructions fromthe Arbor Day site, which directs you to make a 3ft diameter hole and loosen all of the soil, and deep enough for all the roots to not be squished.  I think this is the first decent-sized hole I ever dug- otherwise I would have realized that all dirt removed should go into the wheelbarrow not on the grass. Next time, next time I’ll remember that.

According to the instructions, the roots have to soak for 3 hours in water, I got them in about 5:30. The I dug the three holes and made a good mess of the yard, it was sprinkling but nothing major.    I did some more planting in the garden, will it ever end? And finally went in to make dinner.  Which is about when it started storming.

At which point, I then had three muddy hole and a pile of what had been dirt on the grass and it was dark- I really need an outdoor light.  I’ve been thinking about one of the solar flood lights, it would be pretty sweet for unlocking the door and grilling and apparently gardening in the dark.

But the trees had to get planted.  So now there is mud everywhere:  the rain barrel, the watering can, the side walk, the garage, my jacket, and my boots. All over the lawn. 

The Arbor Day trees come as little sticks.  I was told by one person that they have gotten two batches of the ten free trees (that is correct you could be the proud owner of ten new trees if you sign up with Arbor Day) and all the trees died.   All 20 innocent little trees, dead.

Another person told me they got a cherry tree and it was dormant the first year and then started to grow.  And don’t fertilize it, and don’t put the mulch to close to the trunk. Be patient, they are alive.

I'm really excited this one has leaves, the other two do not.