Flourish Garden Club

Growing and thriving!

Q and A April 7, 2008

ally @ 10:48 pm

Here we can post any problems or questions we come across, and the wise and generous Constantia Valley Garden Club members can answer our queries:

 

6 Responses to “Q and A”

  1. Glenda Bell Says:
    April 15, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    This is the best time of year to Garden! Get busy, & follow things to do. Any Questions?

    Reply
  2. Berenice Kilfoil Says:
    August 22, 2008 at 5:29 pm

    Please could you let me have information on the
    Freylinea Lanceolata tree.
    I am looking for a suitable tree to plant on a +- 1 km boulevard in a housing estate.
    I want a tree that is quick growing, not very tall and is
    attractive. Ideally it should also attract birds.
    It must also be decideous

    Any other suggestions would be most welcom.

    Thank you
    Berenice

    Reply
  3. anne dew Says:
    August 27, 2008 at 5:44 pm

    have a look on Plantzafrica which is a wonderful Botsoc website which will tell you all about your tree as well as many others. Personally I wonder whether the Freylinia you mention would’nt be a bit droopy for a driveway ? I have the White Stinkwood in my driveway which is lovely, deciduous but probably does’nt attract birds. I am sure Plantzafrica will tell you about that one as well. Celtis Africana is the botanical name. Mine are just in bud now and look so delicate and pretty. Nice chatting to you …. good luck !!

    Reply
  4. marianne Says:
    August 27, 2008 at 6:25 pm

    Hi berenice, Glenda has asked if some of the ladies in our garden club reply to your querry.

    First of all it is wonderful that you are thinking of going the idnigenous route.
    To advice I would need to know a bit more about the position of the housing estate – soil – moisture – will you water or not, wind etc. On a more practical note -How much space is there- for them to spread – Also how many will you need for a kilometer – and can you get enough of them… ?
    In light of this question perhaps a better route would be to see how many you need- and what your budget is – this will affect the size of tree you can get and remember you will need some extra money to buy the compost etc.
    you could then look and see what is available from specialist tree nurseries and start looking at the these trees attributes.

    With regards the frelinia. It is not deciduous. It is not a neat tree – If you look at the tree in Kirstenbosch near the pond it can look quite ragged- also it needs regualr water to do well —- It is not a tree I would plant in an avenue.

    I don’t know that I have helped much beyond being negative – but hope this will give you ideas. If I can help further please email me.

    Marianne.

    Ps. I love the Ponpom tree- not a great bird tree though; some of the diospyrus are good too, Haleria great for birds but not in an avenue… but as I said it depends largely on space… also there are not that many deciduous indigenous trees.

    Reply
  5. Gigi Thompson Says:
    August 28, 2008 at 5:52 pm

    Hi Berenice,
    You will be so confused after all this,,,,,, Look at the trees on the pavement in Sidmouth Ave Claremont on the lhs going towards Edinburgh Drive. They are Nuxia. I would have thought they were more round in shape, but they look fabulous there. Also get a flower.

    Syzigium Guineese, Rhus chirendensis might be worth a look at.

    Not indigenous – Laganaria patersonii – ?? Jeanette v M has one in her garden.

    All the above are available is large quantities in 50kg bags.

    Good luck Gigi

    Reply
  6. Brigitte Berg Says:
    August 29, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    Hi Berenice,

    for what it’s worth, just my personal experience with Freylinia lanceolata- best treated as a large-ish shrub in back of border. To keep a good shape cut back quite radically every couple of years. It then remains a dense multi-stemmed bush(recovers quite quickly). Happy gardening, Brigitte

    Reply

Leave a Reply