Planting indigenous trees is good for the environment and also provides a number of other benefits. Knowing how to plant and care for indigenous trees will give your garden a huge boost – both now and for the future.
Issues such as food security, the cost of living and water shortages can all be addressed by an indigenous garden. But before you start planting, planning is vital.
Understanding Your Garden
There are several factors you should consider when deciding what indigenous trees to include in your garden. If you only have a small space, it is essential to consider the mature size of any species you choose.
Observe the environmental conditions; plant shade trees in areas where they will provide the most protection from the sun. If you live in an area with strong winds, think about planting trees with dense foliage as windbreaks.
Choosing Your Trees
The types of indigenous trees you choose will depend on your aims. Planting indigenous fruit trees, for example, can provide sustainable food to supplement your family’s diet (or maybe you just have a passion for making jam).
Fruit trees and flowering species will attract pollinators like bees, birds, and butterflies. If you’re after a vibrant indigenous garden ecosystem, look for trees and other plants that provide varied habitats for different types of wildlife.
Planting Indigenous Trees
Once you have a plan, you can start planting. One important consideration is time of year – if you live on the highveld, for example, you want to give young saplings the chance to establish themselves before winter frost hits your indigenous garden.
If you’re planting trees with extensive or invasive root systems, plant them well away from the house, other built structures, and paving – or you may be facing some costly repairs in a few years’ time!
Preparing the soil is critical. Many indigenous tree species in South Africa prefer soil that drains well, while some grow better in sandy soils. It used to be common practice to simply dig a rectangular hole wide and deep enough for a new tree’s root ball. Now, however, it is recommended that you dig a wide and shallow bowl-shaped depression deep enough for the root ball. Doing this will loosen the soil around the tree, allowing its roots to spread horizontally in the topsoil, where there is better access to oxygen.
When refilling the hole, the base of the stem where it meets the root ball should remain above the soil.
Caring for Your Indigenous Trees
Once a tree is planted, adding a top layer of mulch (5 to 10 cm) will help to retain moisture, keep a stable soil temperature, and add nutrients to the soil. Keep mulch away from the base of the tree. The soil around your tree should be moist (not saturated) for a few weeks after planting.
One of the benefits of indigenous trees – so long as the garden environment is similar to their natural habitat – is that they should require less care and fewer chemicals than exotic species. This is because they have evolved to be adapted to the local conditions. Planting indigenous trees will give you a far more water-wise garden, too, providing environmental and cost-saving benefits.
As your indigenous trees grow, you may need to selectively prune them to improve their health and growth structure, as well as remove dead or diseased branches. Indigenous trees are generally more resilient to local diseases and pest species.
High biodiversity in your indigenous garden and the presence of pollinators and other beneficial species will help to keep the ecosystem healthy. Inspecting your trees regularly will also help to spot problems early, before they get out of hand. As much as possible, try to find biological or organic solutions to pests and disease. This may mean attracting appropriate predator species for pests, or looking for eco-friendly treatments for plant diseases.
