Many times we have heard that you have to do three things in life: write a book, have a child and plant a tree. Today, we are going to talk about the simplest -and ecological!- of them: giving a little life back to the planet by planting a tree.
It is much simpler than we think and we can do it in a single day. In addition, this beautiful activity can be carried out both alone and with friends and family, your children will love the experience! Along with its positive effect on the environment, this modest action will provide us with great joy (who can resist seeing their tree grow?) for life. Keep reading this Green Ecology article if you want to know some tips for planting a tree.
Benefits of planting a tree
The trees give great environmental benefits: they provide oxygen, clean the air, maintain temperature, prevent erosion and are a source of raw materials. Likewise, they serve as shelter for insects and creatures.
However, planting a tree is not just about digging a hole in the ground and putting the plant in. we need one advance preparationcollect information and take into account a series of considerations to make sure that we are going to do it correctly, such as the climate in which we are planting it, the type of tree, the terrain and the conditions and care that that specific plant needs.
Determine the climate of your area
In addition to the temperature map, we have to know the land of our garden, park or field where we are going to plant the tree. Factors such as slope or soil erosion are important. Keep in mind that it is not a good idea to plant on a sloping ground (the trunk of the tree could fall due to the weight and break), better choose a flat ground. It will also help to look at the trees already planted in that area.
It will help to know more about the soil, if it is acidic, clayey, limestone, sandy… we must bear in mind that we are planting a tree in a totally natural wayso all these variables matter a lot.
know the terrain
We cannot simply choose the tree that we like the most and plant it, before we have to be sure that this vegetation is perfect for our climate. That is why this zone of rusticity mentioned is essential. If a tree is described as “hardy to zone 10” it means that it withstands cold weather conditions. It is preferable, therefore, to plant a native tree, because that way we will be sure that it is made for our climate. If we opt for exotic vegetation and do not take into account the variables, it is possible that it will not develop well or that it will die.
at the time of choose the treewe may also have to observe other factors: a type of tree in danger, which provides a home for birds… Knowing the tree will help us in this important decision.
Some native trees of Spain are: chestnut, birch, holly, poplar, willow, oak, pear… Once chosen, get one quick planting guide of that species or ask an expert to make sure everything goes well, many times the process to follow differs depending on the characteristics of the tree.
Choose the type of tree we are going to plant
If you are planting a tree in a public place, you may need to ask permission. make sure that you do not contradict any law and that you can do it on the right ground.
If it is the first time you do it and you are not very sure, you can always consult a botanist or contact an ecological association that will be happy to help you and will congratulate you on your initiative.
Make sure you can legally do it
As fundamental as knowing the characteristics of the terrain and the climate is know when to plant the tree. Of course, it will depend on your area and the type of plant, but as a general rule, summer is a good time.
There is a mnemonic so that we never forget: the best months to plant trees are the months without “r”; that is, May, June, July and August. Although, according to botanist Eduardo Haeme, winter is also a good time because low temperatures make trees less sensitive.
Choose the best time of year to plant it
Once we have all the information on the table and we have decided what type of tree we want to plant, we will proceed with its purchase. Remember that the native trees are more appropriate and that a tree will grow taller if it is not in a pot or container.
You can buy trees at ecological nurseries, to garden stores or ask the associations which is the most recommended option. Prices vary (fruit trees and exotic species cost more) but you can find, for example, a tiny chestnut tree with a height of 50-70 centimeters for less than 5 euros.
Buy the tree
Following these steps, you can plant your tree:
- draw a circle on the ground calculating how much the plant will occupy, depending on its size and length. The most common mistake is that we make the holes either too narrow or too deep.
- dig the earth up to about 40 centimeters in surface and another 40 in depth, (take into account the size of the tree for this calculation)
- Make sure that in the center fits the root of your plant perfectly.
- By the stem, delicately and with two fingers, we put in the middle the plant from the hole, avoiding touching the root at all times. You have to make it completely straight.
- we place it delicately. The lower part of the stem must be flush with the ground.
- Very carefully, we cover the root of the plant with soil.
- We compact the earth with your hands, not too tight, but not too loose either.
- We equip with a protective earth circle or, if necessary, with a fence or net to prevent the arrival of insects, pests or birds that can destroy our still weak tree.
Steps to plant a tree
During the first year, the tree will be more fragile than ever, so it is advisable that let’s take good care of him. That we water it conveniently (without overdoing it) and regularly. We will wait 6 months to put fertilizer on it and we will feed the soil with a home compost or a mixture that we can find in botanical stores in case the soil is too poor.
From now on, he will be like our son and we will only have to admire him and see him grow up under a single objective: to have added plant life to planet earth.
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