Ornamental trees
Trees are, indeed, symbols of peace, tranquility, harmony and, life itself. While commercial trees are used for their fruit and vegetable yield or for the purpose of forestry, ornamental plants lend their beauty to the surroundings. Whether they are looked upon for their functional value or for their decorative qualities, trees do not fail to add splendor to our surroundings. In addition to these attributes, and due to their long life, trees also provide a sense of intransience and constancy to the setting.
Contrary to trees that have a tangible business value, ornamental trees / plants are grown in house gardens or as potted plants, solely for their ornamental value. They are cherished for their flowers, bark and fragrance or for the shape of their leaves. Due to their ornamental features, they are used for ornamental purposes of landscaping or to add to the tourist value of gardens and parks. Some ornamental trees, such as the Lavender tree, are grown for both its ornamental as well as utilitarian value (production of lavender oil). Other uses of ornamental treesBesides adding to the beauty of the locale, trees also help us fight environmental pollution and maintain a healthy atmosphere.
This is done by trapping atmospheric dust, eliminating carbon - di - oxide and by generating more oxygen.Kinds of ornamental treesFollowing is a brief description of a few common varieties of ornamental trees. Weeping Willows: - The appearance of the weeping willow, as the name suggests, brings an image of sorrow and melancholy. It is a tall, having long and thin branches that droop down in such a manner that the tree looks like an umbrella. This tree is normally grown in area that have abundant water supply. In case water is scarce, these trees are even known to extend their roots up to the source of water. Therefore, it is best to grow these trees a little away from underground water pipes in house gardens.
Native to China, these are deciduous trees and are mainly found in cool climates of the Northern hemisphere. These can be grown from broken and fallen branches of the older tree or from tree cuttings lying on the ground. Besides its ornamental qualities, the Weeping Willows are also useful for its medicinal properties. The bark of the tree is used to make potions that cure aches and fevers. Ornamental plum trees: - Grown for its decorative purpose, these trees give a fruit supply of edible fruit. Amongst these, the purple-red variety is the most beautiful, primarily for its distinctive and rich color.
A full-grown tree assumes a fan-like appearance. Palm trees: - Widely found in tropical and subtropical regions, they are also widely grown in the Mediterranean coast of Europe. Palms are distinguished by their evergreen compound leaves. For the Romans, palm trees, at one time, stood for a symbol of victory and military success. Weeping Cherry: - Characterized by a rounded or weeping shape, it has dark green leaves. The weeping shape of the tree looks the most beautiful when it is reflected in water. If the drooping branches are allowed to grow and reach the ground, it adds to the beauty of the tree. Chaste Tree (Vitex): - Widely used to treat gynecological conditions, it is used to treat a myriad of menstrual disorders and Pre-menstrual symptoms.
In Greek mythology, chaste women adorned themselves with twigs and flowers of this tree to adorn themselves during the ancient Greek festivals. Meyer lemon tree: - A compact tree, it is widely grown as an ornamental tree for its sweet fragrance, luxurious and glossy green leaves and juicy lemons. The lemons from this tree are less sour than the common lemons. Summer Chocolate Mimosa: - A deciduous tree, it has an elegant deep brown growth. Besides our primal love for the color of chocolate, it looks extremely gorgeous amidst an array of other colorful plants and trees in the garden. It cannot stand extremely cold weather though.
Planting of ornamental treesOrnamental trees can be grown by planting the sapling in a deep trough in the soil. A 2:1 ratio of garden earth and manure is recommended. But care must be taken to prop up the sapling with supporting poles. Since trees take several years to mature, meticulous care should be taken to ensure a healthy growth. In the first year, disorderly and wild shoots, or those that are weak, must be done away with. In the subsequent year, badly spaced limbs should be cut, even it that means keeping only the main tree trunk intact. Though trees need only occasional watering, the same has to be directed at the soil and root.
Another vital consideration here is the fertility of the soil. In forests, and under other untouched conditions, the fallen leaves and twigs decompose, thus providing natural fertility to the soil and augmenting the growth of the tree. But, in homes, where these fallen leaves and twigs are collected and thrown away, there is no hope of added natural productivity in the soil. The situation becomes even worse in and around newly constructed buildings. This is so because deep soil is removed and utilized for the purpose of leveling the ground around the building. Therefore, the natural resources are denied to the trees growing nearby. To tackle this problem, artificial fertilizers must be added to the soil.
To add to the above, even if the soil, in which these ornamental trees are planted, is good, it could still benefit from additional fertilizers. Since ornamental trees are usually planted in home gardens or parks, growth of their roots is restricted by sidewalks, footpaths and foundation of the nearby buildings. Fertilizers are helpful in overcoming hindrance posed by the latter.Pruning of ornamental trees Needless to say, for ornamental trees to sustain their beauty and loveliness, scrupulous care and tending becomes indispensable. The gardener, or tree lover, should remember to prune the tree at regular intervals. Pruning should be regarded as a means to provide wholesome nourishment to the ornamental tree.
Pruning also ensures the maintenance of symmetry of the tree. Any neglect in this regard would lead to the tree becoming overgrown and it might, as a result, become weak and lose its healthy growth. An overgrown tree would also fail its very purpose that of adding to the aesthetic value of the house / landscape. When to prune, how to prune and what tools to use for pruning these are some of the bare essentials that one must educate oneself about. While most trees can be pruned at any time of the year, it is advisable to prune them at specific times of the year. This is determined by the kind of tree in question. An experienced hand should be consulted to decide this. Happy Gardening!
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