Planning Makes Perfect
Here is a tip I recommend to homeowners who want to establish
a garden with an assortment of trees and shrubs. First,
determine the height of the plant at maturity. Its root
system, on average, will extend half of its height in
all directions unless it is physically blocked from doing
so. Secondly, tall-growing coniferous evergreens such
as spruce, pine and fir, along with tall shade trees such
as ash, poplar, maple, oak and linden, should be planted
near the center of the yard, not within 15' of a fence
or any buildings. (Do not subject your neighbors to branches
overhanging their property from a tree located on your
property!)
There is a good argument to have an assortment of young
woody plants, trees and shrubs, in a new garden. As
woody plants grow older and larger, the compassionate
gardener will select and remove some of the struggling
plants early in their competitive life to make room
for the fitter and more desirable ones. Keeping many
struggling plants in competition with each other year
after year is unhealthy and obviously detracts from
the potential beauty of the plant arrangements in the
garden.
|
