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Trees are good for our health and spirits.
Not only do they look appealing but they sooth
us and de-stress us. Their psychological effects
are profound - that's why trees are planted
around hospitals and nursing home - they speed
our recovery.
Before buying a tree think about how much soil
it requires for root growth, think about far it
needs to be away from buildings and also think
about above and below ground utilities such as
overhead wires and underground cables and pipes.
Also will the tree receive an adequate amount of
sunshine and water?
When planting a tree dig a hole that is 2 - 3
times wider than the root ball of the tree.
The depth should be no more than the depth of
the root ball.
Trees need to be mulched just as much as other
plants. Make the mulch 60 - 80 mm (3 - 4
inches) in depth. Organic matter is best. Don't
use black plastic as it nterferes with water
absorption by the roots. Mulch creates a
temperature barrier in winter just as much as it
does in summer. It acts as insulation.
Don't mow close to trees. If you mulch
around your trees it eliminates the need to mow
up close anyway. Lawn edge rimmers should
be kept away from trees as they can damage the
bark and ultimately lead to the death of the
tree.
Trees grown in our gardens don't generally have
as much competition as they do in a forest so
their branches tend to grow out horizontally
rather than vertically as they would in a
forest. We need to prune trees to improve
their branch structure. Pruning can also remove
unhealthy branches and can enable more air and
sunlight to reach the middle of trees,
this is especially important for fruit trees.
It is especially important to prune young trees
to enable their structures to be strong right
from the start.
Trees can be pruned at any time and the timing
will not affect the health of the tree.
Often it is easier to see exactly what needs
pruning when the tree is dormant and has no
leaves to obstruct your view. It is also
important to consider when the tree is going to
flower and then ensure you have trimmed it back
well prior to new buds forming.
For most trees you should never reduce more than
1/4 of its crown when pruning.
Try to encourage your trees to branch out so
that the branches are at an upwards angle at the
10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions.
For most trees their natural environment is the
forest and they receive plenty of nutrients from
falling leaves that break down and decompose.
This is most usually not the case in suburban
gardens or in commercial areas where they are
surrounded by concrete. Consequently there
are times when our trees need fertilizing.
Contact your local nursery to find out what you
need for your specific tree and your locality.
Insects and other bugs in your trees should be
assessed by an arborist or by your local
nursery. Not all bugs are detrimental to
the health of your tree and some bugs are there
to give you warning that something else is amiss
in your tree or your garden.
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