pondered “right tree, right place” at the time they planted the tree. The further a tree is from its natu-
ral setting, the harder it is for that tree to accomplish its daily growth-goals. Take a walk in a forest. Listen to the silence and experience the many activi- ties and the varied life-forms. It’s all occurring in a symbiotic dance. Look at what’s growing, its shape, and how well it’s doing. Notice the relationships amongst the plants. Next, walk in a typical residential neighborhood. Here, each tree is in constant danger. There’s no complex supportive ecosystem; we feel a different vibe altogether. Trees in a forest do wonderfully well without our intervention, whereas trees in an urban setting are subject to intrusion by man and machine. In the forest, the ground never gets ‘cleaned’ by rakes, power mowers, weed-whackers, roto-
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tillers, etc. A tree needs what’s on the ground to help it live. All the birds, bugs, animals – they’re part of the shared, interdependent environment. Our skinny tree in its six by six plant-
ing site in its small yard must sigh in envy at the easy yet dynamic life of its forest cousin. But it is possible to make a skinny tree an enjoyable part of your yard, and to keep it healthy in its urban location. So plant-on, people! Assess your space; take into account the progression of the sun through the day; choose the appropriate tree for your small urban space; let the tree sit with proper watering and care in its container for a brief time; and then plant your tree in an appropriate spot. Right tree, right place. All that’s left to give is a dose of love. Dave Lutes is the owner of Treewise Inc. He is a passionate lover of trees. .
Summer 2014 • 29
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