The Smithsonian LIVE featuring the Smithsonian Horticulture Division recently hosted a workshop on Fall Tree Planting in late October at the Enid Haupt Garden just off the Mall.  Now is the time to plant shade trees, that is trees that provide shade we were instructed.  First there is some preparation to be done.  Two linden trees were chosen for the demonstration.  Purposely neither in fine order to demonstrate what should be done when there is not a strong leader to prune around.  Leaders were chosen for their upright characteristics and then the Horticultural Division specialists proceeded to prune up to 25% of the limbs – limbs that crossed, did not branch out or were too close.  One tip that came as quite a surprise was how to prepare the root ball before putting it in the ground.  Rather than score the root bound ball, it was suggested that fellow gardeners just cut off the entire blanket of roots.  Scoring just allows the roots to make further circles.  ( see picture). The workshop was free and most informative.