As September starts and the blossoming flowers of spring begin to bud their gorgeous heads, we are reminded of the new life that spring brings and the joy that comes with it.

What better way to celebrate life, growth and a new season than by planting a tree? This has always been a Spring Day tradition and we decided to continue with it this year, by planting a cheerful indigenous tree. Trees bring so much life and colour to a garden and they are a gift that will keep on giving for years to come.

Planting a tree is always so much fun to do with kiddies because it allows them to get dirty and dig up a big hole in moms garden, which is just the best part about the whole thing.

What you will need:

• An indigenous tree - we used a pom pom tree
• Some flour
• A spade
• A tubtrug
• Hand-held trowel
• Superphosphate / bonemeal
• Compost
• A filled watering can

The A, B, C’s of planting a tree:

• Firstly, scout your garden or the area where you have permission to plant a tree and select somewhere that is spacious enough to allow the indigenous tree to grow. We chose the pom pom tree as it only grows to about 6 metres high and is perfect for a garden.
• Spread some flour in a square over the area that you have selected to plant the tree, as a guideline of where to dig. This space should be at least twice as deep and twice as wide as the container that the tree is in, so that the tree is encouraged to spread its roots and stabilise as it grows.
• Get the kiddies to dig out the hole and to get nice and messy while doing it.
• Place the dug-up soil into a tubtrug (a large bucket or wheelbarrow can be used instead) and mix it together with some superphosphate or bonemeal and compost.

• Place your tree in the centre of the hole in an upright position.
• Refill the hole with the dug-out soil mixture, filling the hole right to the top, to hold the tree in place.
• Use your watering can to water the newly planted tree thoroughly.

Once you have cleaned up around the tree, make some garden party bunting and set up a kiddies picnic to make this activity even more fun.