I am not much af a garden person. I tend to be more interested in things that I can construct and build than things that grow
I do like plants that are edible though and I do enjoy being outside very much. It is just the maintenance of a garden I am not too fond of.
One thing I dont mind in the least bit is planting trees. I do like trees. I really dont know why but there is something peacefull and joyful about them at the same time.
Maybe its the comparable longevity or the fact that they give shade and shelter. maybe its something else. I just really like them.
So when My wife was given a japanese cherry tree (one of many variants of prunus serrulata) as a gift for her recent birthday, I had no qualms about volunteering to plant it for her (maybe part of the reason was that it was placed in my forge because its fairly cold out there, and it meant I couldnt work before it was planted)
Planting trees is fairly easy. I have planted quite a few and they tend to do well. Trees are surprisingly strong and tough and as long as they do not dry out completely (or are attached by fungus or pests)they can withstand a lot of hardship.
I dug a hole where we agreed the tree should be, in a spot together with our fruit trees (a pear tree, an appletree, a japanese plum and a cherry(the edible version)) There it is visible from our bedroom, and especially in spring when they all bloom it is a daily pleasure to get up in the morning and watch them.
A little beauty to kick off the day.
I have been told that winter is the best time to plant a tree. Apparently plants use the winter to store a much energy as possible inside their structure, which means they are less vulnerable to outside changes (such as being uprooted and replanted)
the ground was soft and wet after the heavy rains the day before so the digging was easy. I filled some water in the hole even so just to make sure. In the meantime the tree was placed in a bucket of water to try to dissolve the hard packed earth around the root. That way the root will have an easier time getting contact with the new soil.
I gently pried the earth apart around the roots ass well. It is very - very cold to stand with your hands in water when it is that cold but I was having such a good time I almost didn't notice.
The hole (now with water in it) was a bit too big for the tree and I had moved a bush(I cant remember the name but it has nice yellow flowers in the summer) so I needed some more earth. Luckily we have lots of that.
the best soil is found in the chicken pen, so I went there and got a few bucketfuls. The chickens love it when i dig in there because a lot of earthworms surface when the soil it turned, and they stand ready to gulp them down as soon as the shovel is safely away.
I like the idea that these earth worms and all the other unpalatable stuff, that the chickens eat, are turned into very nice and very palatable eggs.
I filled some earth into the hole and mixed it to a slurry into which I put the tree and then more earth and water on top, and thats it.
Now there is only waiting and hoping the tree survives the winter. If it gets through the first winter it is probably ok, and we can look forward to enjoying it beautiful flowers every spring from now on.
Our very own little Sakura festival.
Im EvilHippie, a compulsive creative and jack o' trades. If you want to know more about me, check out my introduction post here
If you like what you see, feel free to upvote, follow and resteem
or you can check out my accounts on these sites:
Youre welcome to like or follow me there as well.