Take the time to research which tree you want and its needs. Try to get
as much information as you can about your tree before you plant. This section offers a few brief tips about general care that
should get you started in the right direction.
How to Plant Your Tree
When planting a new
tree, know the strengths and weaknesses of your
treevariety. For example, if your tree has delicate leaves placing the
trees fully exposed to drying sun and wind will certainly lead to scorched leaves
and a puny
trees. Think of your tree's habit and mature size when
planting. You would not want a
tree that will be 15' wide in a few
years planted too closely to any permanent structure or other trees.
Choose a place with plenty of room in a partially shaded place,
preferably a spot where your
tree can get a nice dose of morning sun
and be protected through the harshest part of those hot summer
afternoons.
Gardeners will often plant their
trees in holes that
are too deep and too narrow. Roots need access to oxygen and room to
grow. Dig a hole about three times the width of the root ball, and the
crown (the place where the roots meet the trunk) should be level with
the soil surface. If you have clay soil, make sure to break up the
sides and bottom of the hole to prevent water from being trapped and
rotting your brand new tree. If your tree was in a container, carefully
pull apart the roots to ensure that your tree does not become girdled
and strangle itself. Recover the soil to the crown, but do not pack it
down tightly—loose dirt allows roots to become established.
How to Feed and Water Your Tree
Trees, once established are very low-maintenance for most of the year. Most trees love moisture—during the warmer months, make sure you give your tree a deep watering
about twice a week during hot, dry summers to help it establish strong roots.Some
varieties with more delicate leaves may have a tendency to
dry up and scorch in the summer or freeze in a late frost and scorch.
If you suspect a late frost is headed your way, just go ahead and cover
the more delicate plants in your garden. Deep watering may be your only
hope against drying in the summer.
An all-purpose
slow-release fertilizer or rich compost will supply the basic nutrients to feed most trees. Just work the
fertilizer into the soil around the tree at the beginning of every
season to get the best results.
How to Prune Your Tree
If
your tree has been properly planted, has established itself, and has
developed a strong root system, the only thing left to do is periodic
pruning and shaping. Pruning maples is really simple. Remove dead or
damaged limbs, and any new growth that appears on the main trunk
(allowing your tree to focus its energy on filling out its distinctly
beautiful branches). You may also want to shorten long limbs that
distract from the overall shape of the tree.
Choosing Tree Varieties to Suit Your Garden
Want to make a dramatic change in the overall look of your garden? Planting a trees is the quickest way to change the look and feel of your garden. Trees add
structure and height, and they have striking presence and
style. A few strategically placed trees in your landscape design can
change the entire look and feel of your yard. Planting a tree provides incredible results for the modest amount money and time
invested, it's good for the environment, and it's fun.
Some of the quickest growers are also the most
interesting. Many varieties of dense firs, colorful maples, and wispy
willows grow quickly enough to noticeably change the look of your
garden in just one season. Fast-growing trees are as functional as they
are beautiful—quickly providing privacy screens, shade trees, and
dramatic color and fragrance that could take years to achieve with
slower varieties.
Landscape Design with Evergreen Trees and Shrubs
Most
Pines, Cypresses, and
Thujas grow incredibly fast, and make a great
quick fix for most of your tree-related garden needs. A tall pine, like
a Loblolly or Rock Pine, can reach impressive shade-tree heights in a
third of the time that it would take many deciduous trees to reach the
same height. And the long, dark-green, wispy needles give an
ephemeral—almost mystical—feel, turning your garden into the setting
of a great fairytale. Thujas, also known as Arborvitae, are the
fastest-growing evergreens around. Their dense green foliage is perfect
for blocking outside sights, sounds, and wind—turning your garden into
a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle.
Fast Growing Deciduous Trees
Many of the most popular trees for gardeners are also some of the fastest
growers. Red Maples and Weeping Willows are sold bare-root, about two
or three years old, and not more than a few feet tall. But often, after
being planted in your yard, they will grow 3 to 5 feet in one year.
These trees are popular because of their interesting foliage and habit,
and because they offer such quick return on investment, they have
become indispensable in landscape design.
Grow Your Own Fruit
Growing your own fruit is cheaper, more fun, and usually a lot safer than buying fruit from the grocery store. Also, fruit trees are usually very impressive in the garden--they usually have pretty, fragrant blooms, and they attract humming birds and butterflies.
Fruit trees are always
popular, but often it takes several years before a tree produces a
substantial amount of fruit. There are a few fast-growing fruit
tree varieties that produce a useful amount of fruit within a
couple seasons. Dwarf citrus trees are small, and mature very fast, but
you can only grow these in containers unless you live in a very warm
place. Trees from the genus Prunus, like cherries, apricots, plums, and
peaches, all grow fairly quickly, and they are so diverse that any
gardener will be able to find exactly what they need.
As the deer population has boomed and
food has become scarcer, they have become more aggressive. In some areas deer will
strip your garden bare, leaving nothing green or flowery behind. While there is no such thing as a completely deer-proof garden, there
are some effective things you can do to protect your garden from these
hungry animals.
Use physical barriers
A High Fence
Deer can jump pretty high, but a fence higher than eight feet (higher on an up-slope) and
flush with the ground will keep any deer out.
Electric Fences
They are a much easier and less expensive solution. Deer generally
will not try to jump electric fences, but will rather try to climb
through the wires, receiving a deterring shock.
Bird-Netting
An even less extreme
physical option is to put bird netting over your larger and more
susceptible plants.
Herbs, some conifers, and many flowers
are some of the best
deer-resistant plants. More fragrant plants will often deter predation. Planting just a few
deer-resistant plants will limit grazing of your other plants. Remember, "
deer-resistant" does not mean deer-proof. A hungry animal will eat just about anything.
Having a dog In the Family
Owning a dog, especially a big dog will almost always keep deer from approaching your home. Just the scent of the dog will keep most deer away, and if your dog lives outside you will probably never see any deer.
For most gardeners, it is a combination of different solutions that works best. Every gardener has to find the solution that works best in their garden.
