Celebrate World Environment day every day.How to plant a Tree.

Celebrate World Environment day every day.

Elsie Gabriel.

Planting a ‘Tree’ is more an art than a science. Passion for greenery is all you need to get down and dirty. To feel for ‘Mata Dharti’ or Mother Earth is the best way to connect with planet earth. To feel the ‘mitti’ , ‘matti’ or mud/soil in your hands is the only way you can reason why we need to sustain planet earth and keep growing more trees. The earth is healing and the earth brings you down to earth, a humbling experience that no amount of money in the world can buy!

You do not have to be a green professional to learn the art of planting trees. However, you could increase your knowledge in planting trees by participating in a tree plantation drive. Every year June 5^th celebrated as World Environment day, which heralds the onset of tree plantation events all across the world. In India it is a special season as it heralds the monsoon season which is the best time to plant trees.

It is your call to help contribute to the eco system or the new age ‘go green’ phenomenon. Of course many people plant trees every day, farmers, gardeners and green enthusiasts but it is up to us to teach the new generation children and young adults to cultivate a keen interest in planting a sapling or tree and nurturing it to great heights.

First choose a site. Measure your land. Keep distance between each tree or shrub or sapling according to the tree type. Check, is it a going to a vegetable patch, rose bush garden or a huge mangoe tree or a gigantic banyan tree? You will be able to gauge how deep and big the roots will grow into the soil. Accordingly space out the plantations and create the pits to imbed your plant into.

You should always avoid using of underground utilities when planting your trees. Do not plant trees too close to pipe networks or hard rock structures. Ensure the land is soft and has good clay and is healthy and fertile.

Firstly, it is optimal if you choose a tree which is grown to nursery standards for it to be planted, so that you could envision the circumference that the tree would need when its branches grow full size.

Dig up the soil about the size of ‘Width and Height’ one feet by one feet if you are going to pant a tree. If you have vegetable seeds or flowers plants space them an inch or two apart. If it a hedge you are looking at, keep them closely knit.  Supplement the soil with manure and fertile soil. Mix the two ingredients well.Clean the soil in the pit of any plastic materials or weeds. Place seeds about two inches or so under the ground and use the instructions on the seed packets or plant sapling carefully. You can also take the advice of a experienced gardener.

It is necessary that you blend in the soil properly before planting of the tree. You have to set the root ball aligning it with the ground level, and may use some water for enabling the soil to settle down. Open and remove from polybag. Hold the root ball firmly not letting the soil around it to disperse as yet. Place the plant into the pit gently. If it reaches one-third the height of the pit and then enter the remaining area with good soil and cover the root parts well.
You must refrain from packing down the soil too hard and tight, which if done could suffocate the whole settings of planting a tree. After this is properly done, only then can you ensure that the tree will not fall down and that it can easily stand the wind and rain.

Create an outer ring around the rim of the pit, this will help keep the water in. And also create an inner rim inside close to the plant roots.Water the new plant well but do not flood the root area.

Supervise the trees and nurture it like your off springs.

Use organic fertilizers as much as you can. Seasonally check for any insects or fungus on the leaves. 

Take time to smell the flowers, see the butterflies and insects which visit your trees.Harvest your crops with gratitude and enjoy your tree.

Keep an eye on your trees. They will keep an eye on you for life.