Johannesburg - It’s the time of year when South Africans are encouraged to plant indigenous trees in their gardens, schools and communities.
Just because Arbor Week is over (it ran from September 1 to 7), it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your part to improve your environment. If you’ve been looking for a tree to plant but aren’t sure which one would be right for your space, this year’s Common Tree of the Year should fit any space nicely. (You might have a problem finding the Rare Tree of the Year Heteromorpha arborsescens, the Parsley Tree, so let’s stick with this one for now.)
The Forest Bushwillow (Combretum krausii) is one of South Africa’s loveliest trees. It is a medium-to-large tree, getting about 5m to 15m tall with a 4m to 8m spread, depending on climate, and is classified as mostly evergreen – or semi-deciduous.
It’s beautifully decorative at most times of the year, which makes is a good choice for the garden. The leaves turn bright red to purple in the winter months and it is covered in dense heads of creamy-white flowers from August to November. It can have a showy flush of small white leaves in spring, which eventually turn green. And don’t forget the colourful red four-winged fruits of late summer.
Birds, bees and butterflies are attracted by the seeds and nectar, as well as its roosting possibilities.
This low-maintenance tree is fast growing (up to 1m a year); an ideal shade tree, even in smaller gardens; it’s great for screening and reasonably resistant to the cold.
The Forest Bushwillow is ideal, too, for planting along driveways or in paving as the roots are unlikely to lift your hardscaping. Being a forest tree, it’s recommended for shady areas in mild to warm climates.
When planting a tree, never dig the hole deeper than necessary. Add lots of compost and a generous helping of bone meal – or superphosphate, if you have dogs.
Plant the tree with the root collar at ground level, or slightly higher, to allow for settling. Remove containers, wire, plastic and string from the trunk and roots before planting.
Fertilising at the time of planting is not necessary but the tree should be deeply watered. Thereafter, water your young trees every three to four days in summer and seven to 10 days in winter. Shelter them from heat and frost for at least the first year. They are quite hardy once established.
You can even plant this one in a large container, if you promise to fertilise and water it regularly.
That’s it. Time to offset your carbon footprint by planting an indigenous tree. Grab a shovel and get growing!
Saturday Star
* Don’t miss Melanie in Gardening 101 on The Home Channel (DStv 176) on Tuesdays at 9pm, with seven repeats throughout the week.