Friends, As I engage in projects, I intend to share the How-Tos with you. I hope I can save you some money and bring joy and value to you. The first project I am working on is a flower island in the front yard. The home used to have three more large oak trees in the front-yard but the previous owners of 8 years ago had cut them down. Since I moved into the home 8 years ago, I have wondered why those beautiful oak trees were done away with and three others remained. I could not reach or locate the previous owners who had made that decision but through some research, I found out that the main county water supply line is close to the site of two of the trees. So perhaps the roots of those two trees had encumbered the water line or threaten to tie it up into knots. The third tree though was some 50 yards away from the water line but only 10 feet from the driveway. I have come to the conclusion that it was too close to the asphalt driveway and may have contributed to cracks in the driveway. I had since expanded the driveway with a new pour of concrete to enable us and our guests to turn around on the property instead of back out into the street. I am pleased that decision may have forestalled an accident or two. So midway between two of the fallen trees, I have just planted a Japanese Red maple. This plant grows to about 20ft high and 20 ft. wide. I plan to trim it on the top and sides so it can grow shorter, more rounded, and afford more comprehensive shade without leaning over the driveway much to encumber trucks. It is a deciduous tree with red purple leaves which fade to green fall foliage. It has cold Hardiness of -25 celcius and requires full sunlight. It should do very well at that location and with Kentucky temperatures. I got the 5-gallon bucket specimen and here's how I planted it: 1. Dig a hole about 2ft. in upper diameter narrowing to 11/2 ft at the bottom. 2. If you encounter clay, apply about 3 inches of potting soil and spread in the hole. 3. Remove the plant from its pot, break the young roots free from having been contorted in the pot. 4. Place plant in the prepared hole and place potting soil around the roots. 5. Spread mulch (pine bark or other) on top of the new soil to prevent erosion and retain the water. 6. Water generously, and continue to water regularly (each day) for a week until the transplant shock is mitigated. 7. Enjoy your tree as you trim yearly with your wife and or children. This procedure should work for any seedling or plant. The idea is to dig a hole about twice the size of the pot in which the plant came narrowing ever so slightly as you dig. Water newly transplanted seedling/plants to mitigate shock and encourage healthy growth. Use mulch to protect the soil until plant is established. In my next installment, I will share with you how I am building a circular flower-island next to this Japanese Red Maple I just planted. That project 1(b) is taking a week of 3-hours/day. It is coming along nicely. I am using garden blocks for border and 3 clusters of hibiscus, indian Hawthorne, roses, Sedum, Dianthus and 2 varieties of juniper and 1 of spruce for ground cover. I am covering the bare soil again with red mulch. See you soon. If you hire a landscaper, the cost ($700.00/Labour & $800.00/materials) will run you about $1,500.00 You decide. Plus Kids love to do fun garden stuff and is enjoyable. **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい