H&G‘s gardens editor Heidi Bertish chats to arborist Francois Krige about caring for happy, healthy trees.
Selecting the right species
for your specific conditions is as important as the ultimate function of the tree.
Beware of tree staking.
Trees grow trunk tissue when they move in the wind – staking stunts this growth and produces a weak tree.
Once planted, it is crucial to water your sapling for two to three years.
To maximise the beauty and growth of your tree, use a skilled arborist for formative pruning
, ensuring optimum growth and a striking canopy shape.
From five years a dense tree crown may need thinning
to provide dappled light, instead of dense shade. Remove deadwood at this stage.
Never lop, top, pollard, drop-crotch prune, crown reduce
or do any pruning that involves the shortening of the tree’s height.
Read about and be inspired by one of South Africa’s most prized gardens, Arderne, whose recently planted trees are a gift for future generations to enjoy
Photography
Greg Cox
