Untidy, jagged wounds provide inlets for disease. Feeding Good preparation of the planting sites will keep young trees in a thriving condition for at least three years. Over-feeding, particularly of deciduous flowering trees, can result in the production of soft, leafy growth at the expense of shorter-jointed flowering wood. As trees grow older and the new roots penetrate into what are usually less good soil conditions outside the perimeter of the planting holes, it may be noticed that growth slows up and leaves and flowers tend to be not as good as they were. In such cases a proprietary tree fertiliser can be applied, strictly in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Very good results will follow the use of foliar feeds, and many tired-looking plants so treated will regain their former vigour. The occasional feeding of older specimen trees in gardens is an established practice which brings rewards. The usual procedure is to note the position of the perimeter of the canopy of branches, then to mark out roughly on the surface of the ground under these an area extending to 5ft(i.5m) beyond the spread of the branches and 5ft(i.5m) back from the limit of spread towards the tree trunk. This then forms a continuous belt around the tree ioft(3m) wide. This is the area where most of the feeding roots are active. Next, take a soil auger or a crowbar and make holes about Ц to 2in (4 to 5cm) in diameter within this area, and about i8in(45cm) apart some 15 to 24in(38 to 60cm) deep and fill the cylinders thus formed with a slow-release tree fertiliser. A good time to do this work is from mid-February to early April. This treatment is described in the British Standards publication B.S. 3998, 'Recommendations for Tree Work". Protection of Trees Tree guards such as are used in public parks and gardens are seldom, if ever, required in private gardens, but it is reassuring to know that effective proprietary makes are available. Serious damage can be caused by rabbits, even in small gardens, particularly during spells of hard weather. It is curious that rabbits will often damage newly planted trees and ignore established specimens. They will gnaw the stems from ground level upwards as far as they can reach. To combat these attacks the stems can be wrapped around with spiral-shaped plastic tree guards. These can be seen used in quantity on young trees planted on the banks of the motorways. Grey squirrels have become a serious pest, and advice about dealing with these can be obtained from the Forestry Commission's Leaflet No. 56., "Grey Squirrel Control", by Judith Rowe, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Snow Damage The lodging of heavy, wet snow on trees with horizontal branches can cause breakages. It pays to dislodge this from garden specimens, and a stout forked stick is a suitable tool with which to gently shake the branches. Snow lodging among the close, upright fastigiate growths of such trees as Prunus 'Amanogawa' will force open the branches, and these do not always return to their original positions after a thaw.