Exposing roots of woody plants is not generally harmful Microsoft Word - B&B #29 - fragile roots.doc (wsu.edu) although of course those specific kinds that are more sensitive to drying out than usual should be kept moist while denuded and replanted as quickly as possible. With one experiment investigating effects of bare rooting using a set of much used deciduous tree species finding a range between quite intolerant sweetgum through intermediate in tolerance ash to little leaf linden apparently being able to sit out of the ground for an extended period and then grow away again pretty much as though nothing had happened. Regarding small transplants of forest conifers in particular there is a history of those kinds being used for timber plantations to be carried through the site in a bare rooted condition by workers doing replanting by hand. With of course there not being any home gardening style aftercare like watering immediately after planting involved.

I'm new to it too (still haven't gotten my garden bed all ready) but I am planning to just use straight compost for now due to finances. I can get a big load from the city for just $30 (actually got that idea from reading this post and checked to see if our city had that), instead of paying over $100 for the peat moss, vermiculite (which I can't even find anywhere) and store-bought compost. I will add some vermiculite and peat moss later if I find out it's not holding water well enough, but for now this is what I can afford and I have heard of people using just compost (and in Mel's book he has said in areas where vermiculite and peat moss aren't available he teaches them to use just compost) so I hope it will work out. I'm also starting my own compost bin.

I am going to send this poem to my girlfriend. We were just complaining to each other how we are running around doing every. Our husbands buy the tree and the kids think they are great. We decorate the house, bake cookies, clean etc. and no one says anything. Thank you again this definitely puts me back in the spirit! Happy Holidays (I'm going to give my kids a hug - Daddy will get one too!) Cath

Thanks for the responses...I agree that 5X8 is too small. I am going to measure it all out because I think 8X10 is going to be too large. We have a dining area that is right next to the kitchen and I have an antique hutch in the room that is taking up space. The hutch has to be there...it can't go anywhere else. AND, I need a rug under the table for lots of reasons: sound absorption and to break up all the wood we have going on with the table, hutch, and wood floor...I will check out Ballard Designs for a 6X9 or 7X9 Lakegirl-As soon as I can get some pictures uploaded. I am not very good at that! We are just getting moved in, but I promise to post pics! Oh, I got my cabinet hardware in yesterday, so DH is going to be busy setting those... Thanks for asking! Capegirl