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Trees play an important role, not only in the garden, but in all aspects of our lives. They bring height and depth to the garden, afford privacy from neighbours and disguise imposing boundary walls. More importantly, they create mini habitats for wildlife, absorb harmful carbon dioxide, curb soil erosion and protect the garden from the elements.
If you live in a townhouse or cluster home, don’t let your limited gardening space deter you from planting a few trees. There are many small- to medium-sized trees now available that are perfect for the smaller gardens of today.
Choose the perfect tree
Before choosing a tree, take into consideration your garden’s unique micro-climate. Is your chosen site sunny or shady, is it near buildings or paving that might be damaged by invasive roots? Decide whether you want a deciduous tree, which lets through sun and warmth in winter and provides shade in summer, or an evergreen tree, which provides year round greenery.
Some indigenous trees that will thrive in this area:
- River indigo (Indigofera frutescens). A graceful small tree or shrub producing fragrant pink flowers in summer. Plant in sun or semi-shade.
- White pear (Apodytes dimidiate). A small decorative tree that grows moderately fast. It bears sweetly scented, white blooms from spring to autumn, followed by red and black berries cherished by birds. Plant in compost enriched soil in full sun.
- Wild pomegranate (Burchellia bubalina). This evergreen has glossy, dark green foliage and produces clusters of nectar-rich orange flowers that are irresistible to birds. Plant it in compost enriched soil in semi-shade where it will be protected from cold winter winds.
- Turkey-berry (Canthium inerme). A must for bird gardens, this small tree has grey bark, small green flowers in early summer and purple fruit in late summer.
Planting guide
Once you have chosen your tree, plant it with care. Dig a large square hole and add loads of compost and a cup of bonemeal to the displaced soil. Take the tree out of its bag, loosen the rootball and place it in the hole, adding the displaced soil mix. Firm down the soil gently and apply a layer of mulch.
Trees of the year 2008
Every year, two indigenous trees are chosen as Trees of the Year. This year the chosen trees are the wild plum (Harpephyllum caffrum), a fast-growing evergreen tree, with small white flowers in summer; and the bladdernut (Diospyros whyteana), a small, fast-growing tree with dense green foliage.
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