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| Sunday, 1 September 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Raising shrubs and trees by Gwen Herat The most expensive item in a gardener's world are trees and shrubs. The main reason for this is that plants, shrubs and trees take a long period of time to establish themselves into productive periods while bedding out plants or perennials are seasonal. Garden centres prefer to raise plants that are popular in demand for commercial reasons. However, a gardener will want to have a plant that may have caught his fancy but cannot obtain from a garden centre which will compel him to raise the plant by himself. There are two options left for him. Either raise the plant by seed or by layering. He can even raise a plant by cutting. Propagation by seed Try raising a tree from seed. You need not shy away by arguing that a tree or a shrub will take atleast ten years to spread out its wings. Look at the wax plant or the ornamental 'rubber' tree. Is it not worth waiting ten years to see their majesty. The 'Na' tree (our national tree) I planted five years ago is still growing but watching it grow gives me a great deal of joy. The lovely scarlet young leaves fluttering in the breeze, is sheer magic to any gardener. Whatever the variety you chose, sow the seed in a pot of seed compost and transfer the seedlings in a couple of years. Transfer the seedlings again to bigger pots and when they are soundly established, place them in the garden at a site where both sun and shade will be provided adequately. Igsora is yet another shrub that will grow gloriously into a tall shrub with abundance of flowers as the years go by. When transplanting the seedlings, check out the roots and select the best. Weak roots will produce stunted plants and you do not have to wait for years to regret. Eliminate weak plants. In the process, you may raise too many plants. Give the surplus to friends, remembering never to destroy plants which is the principle of a good and responsible gardener. Layering Ask a friend or a fellow gardener whether he would allow you to layer on his plant because little or no damage is done to the plant. Where expensive shrubs or trees are needed, layering is the best way to obtain few plants after layering. The best time is with the onset of monsoons. Select a low layering shoot and remove the leaves from the base. Lightly fork the soil beneath it while working some peat into it. Next, scrape away the soil and gently pull down the shoot into the hollow. When it is firmly embedded, with the help of a wire hook driven into the ground, fix the shoot. You may even try the same by laying a heavy stone while firmly pressing it down to the ground. Either way it is successful. Next bend the free and upwards as steeply as possible and tie it firmly to a stake that has been driven in beside. Cover the base of the shoot with peaty soil and press it down firmly. Wait for a seasoned growth to place which is about a year after layering. Then, cut through the junction of the layering from the main plant. After cutting the ties of the stake, carefully fork and remove the layer. At this stage it would have produced shoots which must not be broken in the process. In many instances, the layered plants would have grown bigger and well rooted which makes them possible to go into the field right away rather than being potted for transplanting later on. When siting them in their permanent positions, do so immediately after the showers and provide shade until such time they are strong enough to face direct sunlight. Layered plants when put into their places must be well staked as the fine roots formed are only surface roots which are very delicate and one gush of wind can sweep them off the soil. Cuttings Cuttings are the easiest method for propagation of trees as well as shrubs and plants. All varieties of plants grow freely and vibrantly from stout shoots cut during the rainy season. The ground has to be prepared earlier, weeded and rubble taken away from the site for cuttings propagation. The earth is dug out and cuttings driven in and the soil around firmly pressed down. They should be firmly staked and never moved or disturbed even during watering until they are established and received by the top soil. The stout cuttings which are referred to as set and taken from the lower part of it, should be cut back clean down to the stem. The weeping willow can be propagated this way but as a rule need a moist situation for this operation. Unless the gardener of horticulturist is capable of skilled crafts beyond these methods of propagation, it is unlikely that he will be able to bring each and every plant under propagation. There are many trees beyond the scope of the beginner. Many are of hybrid varieties and cannot fall into the categories of seed, cuttings and layering basics. Even if attempted, it is very very rarely a seedling will be better than the parent. On the contrary, they will all differ. Many modern shrubs never come true to form owing to this reason. However, seed from some plants may germinate on a mixture of peat and sand. With careful and controlled watering, there is a chance for some plants to arise. It is exciting as well as satisfying if you are able to raise your own shrubs and trees for the garden rather than getting them from the garden centres. Any beginner can raise his plants from seed, layering or by cuttings. Practice will make him perfect. Avoid trials on hybrids and where you find a problem, seek the advice of an experienced gardener. Books on gardening, illustrated will also guide you through if you only care to follow the rules carefully. |
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