If the trees have been removed from the open ground and arrive in skilfully packed bundles of packing material they should be placed in an outbuilding or be stood upright in a sheltered corner outdoors until planting can be carried out. Deciduous trees so packed can be left for up to six weeks without harm, but after, say, two weeks it is beneficial to loosen the tops of the bundles to admit air to the branches. The root ends should not be disturbed. The transport of trees with bare roots unprotected from the elements is something to be avoided. Planting should not be done in frozen soil, but a thin frosty crust can be scraped away from the surface to allow planting to proceed in the open soil beneath. Have everything ready for planting, so far as this is possible, before the trees arrive. You will have taken care to ensure that the right tree occupies the right position. It is a good idea to attach labels with the names of the trees you intend to plant to canes and to move these around freely until you are satisfied you have found them the best positions, and bear in mind that the shape of trees is as important as beauty of flower and foliage. There will be occasions when it is best to prepare a planting scheme by setting this out to scale in a plan. Never be placed in the position of having to rearrange trees because insufficient foresight was exercised. Preparing planting holes on established lawns involves marking out 1. The lily-flowered tulips with their underplanting of forget-me-nots (Myosotis) and the formality of the hedges and topiary specimens give this scene, at Court Farm, Broadway, Worcestershire, enormous charm. It is elegance personified, the perfect example of the marrying of sympathetic shapes and soft colours to create a desired effect.2. The mixed border at Great Dixter, near Northiam in Sussex where in late summer the eye is led past perennial plants like Monarda 'Cambridge Scarlet' in the foreground and the scarlet rose to the billowing "cloud" of rich yellow which issues from the Mount Etna broom, Genista aetnensis. circles usually 4ft(i.25m) in diameter. Drive a peg into the ground where the tree will be planted and loop a strong piece of string 2ft(6ocm) in length around this. Then attach the free end of this string to a strong pointed cane so that you can scratch a distinct circle on the grass. Follow this by cutting through the marked-out circle with a sharp edging iron to the depth of about 2in(5cm). It is most helpful to spread out a suitably sized square of sacking or strong polythene sheeting adjacent to the hole, on which the turf and excavated soil can be placed, keeping the turf, top-soil and sub-soil in separate heaps. The top-soil can be up to lftfjocm) deep, and the division between one and the other is usually obvious as the top-soil is invariably darker in colour than the sub-soil. Excavate a planting hole 2ft(6ocm) deep, fork over the soil at the bottom of the hole and prod the smooth sides to make root access easier.