TREES

TREES

When you plant a tree you celebrate the earth by increasing its leafy canopy, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. Trees have enhanced the NZ landscape for generations and there is a variety to suit any style, purpose or site. A beautiful addition to provide shade, shelter, privacy and fruit for years to come. Whether you choose to plant natives, an orchard or a single tree, planting them makes an impact on climate change and improves biodiversity to help save the planet.

Planting:

The first thing to decide is where you wish to plant the tree. It is a long-term investment and you need to ensure you have enough room for it to grow to maturity without obstructing buildings, power lines, drains or other trees. Next, choose what the main purpose is for planting the tree - fruit/flowers/shade/privacy/birds/beauty? Winter is the best time to plant trees while most are dormant.

Prepare the soil by digging a hole approximately twice the depth and width of the rootball. Add compost and sheep pellets, then a layer of Tui Citrus & Fruit Mix if planting a fruit tree or garden mix if native/deciduous tree. Soak tree in organic seaweed plant tonic to prevent transplant shock and encourage healthy growth. Loosen the rootball of tree and plant in hole. Fill with mix used and position one or two stakes each side of tree and tie with flexible ties. Gently firm around roots and water again. Add layer of mulch to retain moisture and block weeds.

Care:

Fruit trees need nutrients to ensure flowers and fruit produce juicy crops. Use Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser in spring and summer. Water well, mulch and spray with free flow copper to combat leaf curl, blackspot and bacterial diseases. In Autumn remove diseased leaves and sprinkle with Sulphate of Potash around base to boost flowers/fruit. Prune in winter and feed with sheep pellets. In the first year after planting your fruit tree, remove any fruit that sets. This allows the tree to establish itself and encourages better fruiting in the following seasons.

Other trees need regular watering until established and a feed in spring and autumn with slow release fertiliser. Many trees won’t require yearly pruning, but you can prune to shape and control its size as required. As a general rule prune a third of the wood out during the winter. Also remove any damaged or diseased branches. Large trees are not overly susceptible to pests and disease, however you may need to protect from rabbits or possums and shelter from strong prevailing winds.

Examples of Trees:

There are three main types of trees – evergreen, deciduous or fruit trees.

Evergreen trees keep their green foliage all year round, and include a lot of New Zealand Natives like Pohutukawa, Kakabeak and Kowhai to attract birds and Leptospermum, Cordyline and Pesudopanax to preserve our native species. We also stock large trees like Kauri and Totara with Ake Ake and Plagianthus Regius useful for shelter.

Evergreens also includes exotic conifers, like Thujas/Cupress, Cedars, and Pines.

Deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter providing more sunlight and displaying colourful autumn tones like Maples, Oak, Elm, Liquidambar and Ash trees. In spring and summer some flower and fruit. Great specimens are Crab Apples, and Flowering Cherries bringing colourful blossom and form to the garden. Beech and Birch trees provide wonderful silhouettes during winter.

Fruit trees are fun to grow and can give many years reward of fresh, juicy homegrown fruit. Dwarf varieties are good options if you have limited space. Or you can try your hand at espaliering them along the fence line as you become more experienced.

Fruit varieties we stock include (Seasonal):

Pip & Stone Fruit: Apples, Apricots, Cherry, Peaches, Pears, Plum, Nectarine.
Berry fruit: Blackberry, Blueberry, Elderberry, Loganberry, Mulberry, Raspberry and Strawberry, Black & White Currents, Cranberries.

Citrus fruit: Lemon, Lime, Mandarin, Grapefruit, Orange, Loquat,

We also stock topiary trees which is the training/shaping by clipping trees into defined shapes. Common species chosen for topiary include Buxus Sempervirens, Myrtle, Pittosporum and Laurus Nobilis. We have ball shapes, animal shapes and standard varieties available using Star Jasmine, Portugese Laurel, Choisya Ternate and Michelias.