| The mature tree is the most precious object in | | | | supply of water and nutrients to the plant as a |
| the garden. No other element comes remotely | | | | whole. Furthermore, any wound, above ground |
| close to a tree's power to move and inspire and | | | | and especially below it, is a prime source of fungal |
| nothing in the garden is likely to live and last as | | | | and bacterial infection. |
| long. Trees also take a long time to grow - some | | | | *Soil compacted by heavy foot traffic or |
| can take a few generations to realize their full | | | | machinery will reduce the amount of oxygen in |
| potential, while even the fastest growing species | | | | the root zone. Remember that the constant |
| needs at least five or six years before beginning | | | | passing of vehicles five or six meters from the |
| to "perform". It is when the full potential of a tree | | | | trunk will be detrimental to the tree. |
| is considered that the gardener, amateur and | | | | *Tree roots can absorb residues of herbicides |
| professional alike, has to stop and think not only | | | | previously sprayed on the ground. The biggest |
| about how they are caring for the tree itself, but | | | | danger comes from the pre-emergent weed |
| also about the other gardening tasks that they | | | | killers belonging to the Simazine group. A tree |
| are carrying out in proximity to it. | | | | located at the bottom of a trough is particularly |
| What exactly is meant by proximity to a tree? | | | | vulnerable as the Simazine is easily leached out of |
| Being close extends well beyond the first three or | | | | sandy soils and can collect in a depression. |
| four meters from the trunk. As a rough guide, it's | | | | *The habit of raking leaves around the trees is |
| possible to estimate that the roots extend to a | | | | also undesirable. It may not compare in gravity to |
| horizontal distance about twice the height of the | | | | the previous examples, but nonetheless, habitual |
| tree. This means that in some cases they can | | | | raking will in time deplete the top soil of its |
| extend over ten meters beyond the tips of the | | | | fertility, as soil will inevitably be raked away |
| branches and foliage. As any damage caused to | | | | together with the leaves. The latter of course are |
| the roots of the tree is liable to seriously affect | | | | best left on the ground as natural organic mulch, |
| its future growth and development, it follows that | | | | where they will eventually decompose to humus. |
| the "danger zone" should be considered as the | | | | *Pruning is of course the main source of long |
| estimated radius from the trunk to the tip of the | | | | term damage to trees. Both quantity and quality |
| roots. | | | | play a part here. The more limbs and branches |
| In what way then can the garden trees be | | | | removed at any one time, the more the energy |
| unintentionally damaged? | | | | level of the plants is affected. The quality or |
| *Digging is the major culprit. It should be | | | | otherwise of the pruning cuts, determines the |
| remembered that the most active roots, those | | | | extent to which the wounds will heal, and infection |
| responsible for the majority of water and nutrient | | | | avoided. |
| intake, grow more or less parallel to the ground to | | | | The tree is such an imposing, massive thing that |
| a depth of some 10-30 cm from the soil's | | | | some people see it as impregnable. Despite its |
| surface. So tasks like planting are liable to be | | | | size and splendor it would be more advisable to |
| highly problematical, if the digging involved results | | | | look on your garden tree as a big baby. Precious, |
| in severing many root parts. It could affect the | | | | delicate and vulnerable! |