Survival of the Fittest
The problem with planting trees close together is that
their roots compete for scarce nutrients and water and
this may result in one growing faster and larger than
the adjacent one. The competition may be so fierce,
the weaker plant can't cope and becomes unable to take
up sufficient nutrient energy to sustain its life processes.
This plant will be the first to die. So, in a sense,
the overcrowding problem in this instance is solved.
As a general rule, deciduous shade trees will usually
outcompete coniferous evergreen trees of comparable
size and age.
To remedy this, it may be a good idea to hire a certified
arborist who can examine all of your woody plants and
provide an opinion about the removal of the weakest
and least healthy. Physically removing a dying tree
is often a better solution than trying to coax it into
marginal health. Sometimes pruning certain branches
of a larger tree can resolve localized shading issues
for nearby smaller trees, shrubs and flowering perennials.
However, pests and diseases may be present on the plants
you want to save and treatments must be undertaken.
Consult bookstores, libraries, gardening magazine editors,
horticultural departments at colleges and universities,
or talk to your certified arborist. (As an aside, always
check that your arborist has general business liability
insurance.)
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Buyers
Beware
When starting a new garden or refurbishing an old one,
people often consult the staff at the garden center where
they purchase their plants. Some of these centers even
provide simple garden plans or offer custom landscaping
for a fee. But gardeners can get overzealous and buy more
plants than can properly fit into their landscape plan.
I find that it's better to plant five to eight woody plants
in an average urban back yard, rather than 15 to 20.
Another problem is that you may not know how to maintain
the cultivated varieties of trees and shrubs that have
been selected on your behalf. I have assessed the woody
plants in thousands of gardens and I've noticed that
almost half the plant species fail to thrive in the
first five years after establishment. An individual
plant's growth and pest / disease control needs are
very specialized, and often homeowners have not been
appropriately informed on how to adequately deal with
problems that may arise. Out of desperation, they may
resort to spraying insecticides or fungicides and hope
the problems go away. After these methods fail, they
may hack away at branches, ignoring proper pruning and
wound sealing techniques.
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