If you are putting in a tree now, it will surely be one bought in a container. Container grown some of the garden centres claim, though they may not have spent all their life in the same. Anyway, they are safe enough to buy. But even with the most experienced gardeners, this happens: they dig in the tree, water it copiously and then think it can get on on its own. It can't newly planted or transplanted trees need constant attention for a longish time. You could, of course, drown it, in exceptional circumstances of weather, but this spring, if it keeps on as it has done, will see the end of many newly planted trees and shrubs. Put a mulch around it for extra safety, and poke into it now and then to make sure all is well. Trees are hardy and enduring things, but give them the best start you can. Trees, carefully planted make a landscape. Trees just laid down like rolls of carpet can also ruin a landscape, and some people think this has happened in parts of the West in particular. Well, there's a Landscape Forum being held in June where a lot of matters of the kind are to be discussed. The preliminary information points out that landscape doesn't merely include scenery. What about cultural land scape? Urban landscape? Industrial landscape? Archaeological landscape? Suburban landscape? Social landscape? (What's that?) And quite a few other landscapes of the fertile mind of the organiser, Terry O'Regan of Old Abbey Gardens, Waterfall, Cork. His telephone landscape is 021 871460, and the talking will be done on June 18th and 19th in St. Patrick's College, Maynooth. Or you can just go for one day and there are concessionary fees. Let's hope there will be a heated session on litter and the Irish landscape. Litter deposited by the Irish people themselves.
Oh, back to the beginning and the dry weather we have had. If you have anything in pots outside - young oaks or beech or pines or what ever, many will die if you don't inspect them daily. Some may be pot bound and need to be moved to a bigger size or planted out. Even if rain now comes, keep an eye on them. Trees need feeding and space, like