Article Written By: Sue Both
GardenShop’s GardenGuru

You do not have to be a tree hugger to understand the importance of trees in our environment. With the summer sun beating down on us at the moment, we all appreciate the cool, shaded company of trees – but how do you select the right tree for the right place?

Here are some pointers:

• How much space do you have available? Make sure that the tree that you select would be suitable for the area, in terms of its root reach and canopy size.

• If you only have a small space available, plant your trees in large pots. Many trees, such as Acers (Maples) and Oleas (Olives) do very well in pots.

• Remember that most deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in winter) usually grow faster than evergreen trees (trees that are green all year round).

Final thought – Did you know that the city of Johannesburg is one of the largest manmade urban forests in the world – let’s continue to plant trees and keep it that way!