Trees
Trees, more than any other plant, can completely define the entire look of your outdoor space. That’s why it’s important to pick the right tree for your garden. Thankfully, you need look no further than Flower Power for a fantastic range of trees. From small trees, medium trees and big trees, to feature trees and narrow trees. From dependable evergreen types to deciduous seasonal stunners that reveal flamboyant autumn colour.
Trees
Palm tree, flowering tree or fig tree? Choosing the best tree for your garden.
Trees, probably more than any other plant, can completely define the entire look of your outdoor space. That’s why it’s important to pick the right tree for your garden and your situation. Here at Flower Power, we have a huge range of trees to choose from; everything from small trees to big trees, feature trees to fruit trees, and dependable evergreen types to deciduous seasonal stunners.
You’ll find it all online in-store, along with all the tools, potting mix, fertiliser and advice on how to plant a tree you need to get started on your tree journey.
Why plant a tree?
- They look great! Choose from Australian flowering trees for a gorgeous native backyard, a palm tree for a tropical feel, or an apple or fig tree for something gorgeous and delicious. Deciduous trees will flood your garden with red and gold come autumn, while evergreen trees will fill the space with bold greens all year round. Trees come in all shapes and sizes so you can create your perfect outdoor space.
- They have environmental and health benefits. Adding more trees to your environment literally makes it cooler and more liveable. They help by producing oxygen to let you breathe easier and scientific studies show they bring plenty of benefits in terms of both physical and mental health.
- They can reduce your energy bill. Planting the right trees and shrubs around your house helps cool the building, which means less air conditioner use – saving the environment and your wallet.
- They offset your carbon footprint. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and convert it into pure oxygen – helping to fight climate change while looking good. A tree that lives for 40 years can offset 1 tonne of carbon emissions, so better get planting!
How to plant a tree
- First, soak the tree to be sure the root ball is soaked through, as a dry root ball could reject water from the surrounding soil. At this stage you can also add a seaweed nutrient soak to help avoid transplant shock and improve root growth.
- Dig a hole that is at least twice the size of the root ball. It is usually more important to get the hole deep than wide, so the root ball will be completely covered when planted. Each tree has slightly different requirements though, so check with your Flower Power expert.
- Add some improver to the hole and the loose soil. You may want to add fertiliser, compost, manure or gypsum, depending on the needs of your individual plant and the quality of your soil. Australian flowering trees may have different soil requirements from imported trees, for example.
- As gently as possible, remove the tree from its pot. Avoid handling the roots as much as possible, but if the tree is pot bound you may want to tease out some outer roots.
- Place the tree in the hole and back fill it with your improved soil. Firm the soil around the plant, leaving a small well at the top to catch any rain.
- Water the tree thoroughly to help settle the soil in around the plant and give it a good drink.
- If planting in winter, consider adding mulch to the base to keep the roots warm as they settle.
How often do you water a newly planted tree?
It always depends on the kind of tree and the season, but as a general rule, trees need to be soaked when they are planted, and should be watered frequently in the weeks or months after planting while roots are settling.
Many gardeners agree that trees require daily watering for the first month after planting, three to four times a week for a few months after that, then once or twice a week after that, and this should continue until the trees have established themselves. The size of the tree when planted will affect how often you water a newly planted tree; the bigger the tree is, the longer it needs frequent watering.
How far to plant a tree from a house?
When deciding where to plant a tree in relation to your house, you’ll need to consider the mature size of the tree. A good rule of thumb is to divide the mature spread of the tree in half, and use that as the minimum distance from your house.
The height of a tree can also help you determine how far to plant a tree from a house the tree should be planted. Large trees that grow to 20 metres, should be planted at least 7 metres from the house, while smaller trees that won’t grow taller than 5 metres can be planted a couple of metres from your home.
In addition to considering the height and spread of a tree, you’ll also need to consider a tree’s root system. Strong, far-reaching roots can wreak havoc on your home’s foundation and underground pipes. Tree’s roots can spread three times the width of their above-ground size, so avoid planting trees with aggressive roots too close to your house.
Also, you’ll want the tree to filter some of the sunlight, but not throw your living room into total darkness, so consider which way the house faces and the height of the tree in relation to the height of your windows.
For all your tree-related questions, check out the Gardening Advice page on our website or come in-store at Flower Power today to pick up the tree of your dreams.