Garden Trees: Commonly Asked Questions – Answered!

~ Trees are the lungs of the Earth. They absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide that circulates and purifies the atmosphere.

 

There are countless reasons to ensure that your garden design includes trees. Some are ranging from the fact that our tall tree friends offer excellent protection from sun rays, host shelter for wildlife, provide oxygen to living creatures and of course, offer nutritious food. The more trees we have the healthier this world could be.

 

However, even for avid gardeners, trees can represent an entirely different way of looking at the landscape and garden. Trees offer beauty, canopy, design, and property borders. Flowering shrubs, not only add texture, color, odor, and serenity to the homeowner’s yard but also create a lusciously painted canvas for your backyard. Do not forget the privacy that such live greenery offers along or in place of the fence.

In an effort to clarify matters, below, is a list of the most common questions people tend to ask about trees, as well as the answers you need to ensure you can use, care for, and maintain your garden trees in future.

Should trees be watered regularly?

This is a great question, given that we are all accustomed to seeing trees thrive in the wild, without anyone caring for them. It is fair to assume that wild trees are not watered regularly, thus, can any of the backyard trees grow without regular irrigation at all?

In truth, there is no simple answer to this question, sorry! You were hoping for me to give the magic “yes’ answer, but it all depends on the type and age of the tree. Younger trees do tend to need frequent watering, whereas older ones can usually go without. As a result, it is usually best to research your specific geographical area and native species to determine whether supplemental water is required. Here in Florida, we absolutely need sprinklers to help the trees thrive through the draught season. I was curious one year to see if the loan will recover without my sprinkler system and the trees were no very happy. Luckily in time, the sprinklers were turned on again and my yard trees recovered. Witnessing such sadness in the tree branches, made me feel so guilty. Even though it rained daily here during the rainy season, it just wasn’t enough to combat the heat that trees experienced during the day. Turning off the sprinklers in such an environment is not a good option.

Do trees require a lot of additional care?

Yes. Even though trees are tough, they still require a level of care to ensure they continue to grow healthily throughout their beautiful lives. While the specific care instructions will vary depending on the type of tree, the inspection of the branches, roots, mulch, leaves, and trunk will ensure early prevention of any kind of bug damage or environmental disease.  Many homeowners usually best hire an experienced landscape company to perform this work, although I truly feel with good planting techniques, proper mulching, distance, and sunshine, you will not need to resort to professional services. By observing the tree progress on a weekly basis should be enough to conclude its health status. Moreover, if you touch the branch, feel the leaf texture and perhaps hug your tree, earthing and rebalance of your own well being will only benefit you to stay strong and continue on your own daily journey.   

Will all trees provide blossom?

Not all will provide blossoms, but some will provide seeds, pollen, (some people develop severe allergies to it), cones and flowers. Blossom heralds the start of spring for many of us, make it natural for those considering planting a new tree to want to ensure they find a tree that will provide blossom year after year. As a result, many people assume that they are restricted to cherry trees if they want to guarantee beautiful springtime blooms. There are many more options to enjoy beautiful blooms year after year. Such trees as magnolia, crab apple, elderberry, citrus, chestnut, mango, avocado, and many other species do develop blossoms, however, junipers, cypress, and ferns will provide us with cones. These decorative beauties are used as a food source for many critters, and as decorative souce for your household. As a child, I was making dolls out of the pine cones, while coloring them in different paints and applying these dolls as Christmas tree decorations. These distant memories make me smile, even now.

Which trees change color in fall?

Just as the blossom is synonymous with springtime, fall is inherently linked to tree leaves changing color – the beautiful gold, red, and yellow hues are truly a sight to behold.

If you are hoping to enjoy spectacular fall colors in your own garden, then tree selection has to be geared to seasonal color changes. Sometimes it is nice to settle near the native forest filled with trees, such as maple and oak. A multitude of color changes made many poets produce timeless classical pieces. My preference was always geared towards evergreen trees, as one would expect given the name, offer no leaf color change at all. I like to see green color at all times, contrasted against the blue sky. No signs of aging, even in the landscape makes me happy. That is why Florida suits me in this regard just fine, while others prefer the colorful seasonal change. To each, its own and that is what makes this planet so very interesting. 

Can trees be grown in a small yard?

Absolutely, there is a tree for every yard, every situation, every home, and even every wall, featured in the painting. My recommendation would be to consider trees that can live happily in containers, so you can simply place them wherever you have the available space. During the winter they thrive well inside the house and add lively presence to the daily ambiance. There is a number of different types of tree that can grow well in this environment, but the following are known to thrive particularly well:

• Boxwood
• Holly
• Dwarf Alberta Spruce
• Dwarf Lilac
• Citrus
• Crape Myrtle
• Japanese Maple
• Dwarf Junipers
• Bansai

Hopefully, one day, someone can tell you this: Congratulations, you’ve planted a tree! Every home feels homier with a tree by the front door or when it greets you from inside. A tree says someone lives there. A tree says someone cares.

Make it a very green day, my friends.

Luda@PlantsandBeyond🌿

All photographs belong to Luda @PlantsandBeyond.com

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