Tree Planting
The Queen’s Green Canopy tree planting initiative to celebrate her 70th Jubilee is a unique event that will help focus the population on environmental issues.
I have been looking at tree planting events that were carried out over the last few years. In 1992 a local charity planted a ‘Wood’ right under high voltage power cable that service the substation close by. The initially intended spectrum of native species has largely been reduced to birch trees.
Another example planted about three years ago has established well considering all the plastic guards have already been removed (usually removed after 3-10 years) but the area is overgrown and the trees are a little higher than when they were first planted. Surprisingly, the number of trees in this area appear to have established themselves well in the absence of ongoing care.
An issue that a specialist organisation has made clear centres on the survival rate of small trees depending on the method used when planting them. The Woodland Trust recommend Pit planting versus Slit planting and T-notch planting.
Another area of debate is the species. A guide on 31 native species reveals that only some will be suitable in one area and perhaps another selection in another. Sometimes the less suitable specimens will sort themselves out by not surviving in the ‘wrong’ place, sometimes the backup services from wildlife can fail to provide what is needed for the tree, or local creatures decimate them before they become established.
Caring for trees is important. If the local mower is unaware – the tree could be cut up when the grass is trimmed – You need to tell people that they are there. Weeding is important otherwise the area around a tree dries out until a canopy develops, if manual weeding cannot take place, the alternative pesticides and chemicals need special care.
Watering can be counterproductive in the same way that a vine needs to find its own water. Watering the topsoil might look good but it will encourage shallow rooting systems. The best result is when the tree becomes self-sufficient, usually by locating the water table. Sometimes watering tubes can help young trees by forcing the roots to go deep. This also provides a more stable plant that is less likely to be blown around or even uprooted.