14 — Friday, November 1, 1991 - North Shore News

MANY OWNERS of elder homes
in cities across Canada are facing
a problem with shade trees, or
they have a large open space
where a large tree once stood. In
some cases, older trees such as
elms or huge sugar maples have
died and owners, though they
would like to have another tree,
realize they don’t want one that
will grow as large as the oviginal
one, now dead.

On many other properties,
owners see their maple, birch, or
even elm in a state of decline, and
realize it is not going to be there
to shade them much longer. Si:
other home owners have a proper-
ty with many large trees which do
not allow enough sun through to
grow any vegetables, or even other
than a shady flower garden. Their
dilemma is how to get more sun,
and yet still! have some trees on
the property for shade in specific
areas such as the patio or deck.

The answer to all of these

"variations of the same problem,
~ having to do with former or ex-
isting large shade trees, according
to the Canadian Garden Council,
is planting new, smaller trees. In
‘the case of homes which have lost
huge trees recently, the space left
open allows for the planting of a

‘“:smaller tree in the same spot or
-near the trunk of the older one.

~". However, before planting there, it

- .is. wise to consider if there is a

” better spot at which to site a new

. tree, or trees, as replacement(s).

If the older tree is still present,
and-in. decline (indicating. it will
not. be around for too many more
years), or even if it or several such
older, specimens appear to be
| growing well, it is not too early to
, consider planting at least one new,
“smailer tree to take over when the
.. larger one(s}. succumb. In such
ceases, by. planting now, the
- younger, smaller tree or trees are
Lable to be weil established and

“_. achieve some impressive growth

_ before’ it is necessary to remove

. the older specimens.

. There is still one other scenario
-in which some homeowners,
~ especially _ of . newly-purchased
‘resale. homes, may find

: ‘ themselves. In this situation, new

HOME & GARDEN
Autumn recommended for planting trees

homeowners buy a resale home
because they like the house, but
they do not like the garden! The
Property, often overgrown with
shrubs and small trees, may also
be dominated by one or several
huge trees which allows limited
choice in garden planting — a
shade or woodland planting.
While such a planting may be
popular with some, it will not be
with those who wish to grow a
wide range of vegetables, and
flowers such as roses, filies and
other sun-lovers.

The answer in this scenario is
the removal of virtually all of the
existing garden, including the huge
oid shade trees, regardless of their
condition. While this may appear
to be committing a sin, in view of
all the publicity regarding the need
to plant more trees, homeowners
who decide on this path will actu-
ally be planting more trees and
shrubs than they are removing.
And they will be planting for the
future, since, in most cases, the
new plants will be helping to
purify our air and moderate our
climate long after the old shade
trees would be dead in any case.
However, it takes a great deal of
pondering and soul-searching be-
fore proceeding!

in all of the foregoing
scenarios, the answer is the plant-
ing of one or several trees, and
the time to plant these, in virtually
all cases, is this autumn. In the
last several decades, the choice of
smaller-growing shade trees has
improved substantially. Before
deciding on just what tree to
plant, the Canadian Garden
Council suggests visiting a local
arboretum, city parks, university
campus, show/display garden, or
even a public cemetery, to view
some of the trees that grow well in
your climate.

The next stop should be.a local
garden centre for further advice
on the range of smaller trees
available. Before narrowing your
choice you should consider just
what tyye of tree you wish.
Choices include the ultimate size,
shape of the head, growth habit
(upright, weeping, globe), how
fast the growth is, special features
such as unusual foliage color,

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flowers, autumn coloration, fruits
edible by birds, and whether the
shade cast is just what your
garden needs.

There is a great variation in
what are commonly called
“smaller trees.’ Generally, many
horticulturalists might consider
anything from white beam moun-
tain ash (Sorbus aria), which
grows to a height of 10 metres (35
ft.), down to a weeping mulberry
which will never exceed three to
four metres (10-12 ft.), as a dwarf
or ornamental tree. The choice is
wide, and all possibilities should
be considered.

If we were to take a look at

Chiropractors caution

some of the newer or lesser-known
of the smaller trees, heading the
list likely would be the Japanese
tree lilac, particularly a cultivar
known as “Ivory Silk,” and one
or two newer ornamenta! pear
trees, as well as the Walker’s
weeping peashrub. AH of these
trees are relatively disease- and in-
sect-free, have attributes such as
good growth habits (ultimate
heights of from three to 10
metres), flowers which make them
attractive, and any fruit that is
produced (in the case of the or-
namental pears and weeping
peashrub) is small and is not gen-
erally considered a nuisance.

These trees are only a small
sample from a fairly lengthly list
of dwarf or ornamental trees
worth considering for all of the
aforementioned reasons. The Ca-
nadian Garden Council recom-
mends a visit to your favorite
garden centre or nursery for ad-
vice on which of the smaller trees
are hardy in your area, and which
of these is the most suitable for
your own individual conditions
and needs. Ask for the garden
centre manager, and try to make
your visit on a weekday or early
evening when the centre will be
less busy and able to give you
more individual attention.

gardeners

to practice preventive measures.

FALL IS a time that inspires
everyone to get outside and en-
joy the fine weather before
winter sets in.

B.C. chiropractors offer
some ‘‘golden rules’? for en-
thusiastic gardeners and do-it-
yourself yard workers. North
Vancouver’s Dr. David Olson,
president of B.C.’s College of
Chiropractors, says ‘‘a com-
mon fault is ‘that people often
undertake a physical project
that they do not have the expe-
rience or stamina to handle.
People may try a do-it-yourself
task like topping a tree or
trimming a hedge which is bet-
ter handled by professionals.”

To forewarn fall gardeners,

Olson offers a code of caution.
compiled by B.C. . chiroprac-
tors.

@ Loosen up before working.
Stretch and walk about before
starting your chores. Give your -
muscles a chance to warm up.

@ Use long-handled tools to
keep from excessive bending
while raking and hoeing.
Pushing or pulling in a bending
position can strain the
shoulders or the lower back.

@ Switch hands - frequently ©

while raking or hoeing. This .

avoids prolonged strain on one
side of the body, which can
cause muscle spasms.

@ Use short strokes instead of
long, forceful ones when using

-periencing spinal

a hedge trimmer, and. ‘keep
your back straight. -
@ Carry: only. manageable:
loads of debris to avoid Strain. ~
on your arms and back..-.- we
@ Pace yourself. Don’t try to!
do it all -in- one day. When _
muscles tire, take a walk to
rebalance and relax them.

“Fall gardening can be an
enjoyable and beneficial activi- |

- ty for people of all ages,’’. says

Olson. ‘‘But proper care must
be taken to. learn- how . to
garden carefully.”

With 80% of persons ex-
injuries,
education . and self-help make
up important preventive prac-
tices.

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739-1110