You’ve probably heard the word before, ‘deciduous’ but forgot it’s meaning. The definition of deciduous when it comes to trees is, ‘one that sheds it’s leaves annually’ or ‘tending to fall off’. In contrast to the evergreen, that keeps it’s green needles throughout the year, a deciduous tree goes through the winter looking a stark naked. Trees do this as the way to conserve energy and their water supply during winter. Their leaves also warm and enrich the soil where they fall.
A deciduous tree loses its leaves before winter every year. There are thousands of varieties.
A deciduous tree is a beloved prize for many people. There are a variety of colors, sizes and shapes to these trees. Some of the most productive trees are the deciduous fruit trees, such as apple, pears, cherries, peaches, plum and the list goes on. Not only are they highly prized for their delicious seasonal output, deciduous trees can often be the most beautiful, such as a dogwood, whose pink yearly flowers delight both young and old. Several thousand species exist and before you decide
Deciduous trees can provide shade to buildings, a habitat for wild life or simply as a means to beautify a landscape, yet here at Innovation Diaries we want to point out that when choosing a tree, go beyond its looks and instead plant trees for the functionality and appropriateness in a landscape. This means knowing what elements will be affecting your trees, such as: soil type, ph levels, rain fall, sunlight exposure, winter frost, temperature extremes and wind conditions. You’ll be happier with the long term results and a tree that can grow well in the conditions of the climate of your area will require less maintenance, if at all.
When selecting a deciduous tree to grow, make sure that can naturally thrive in your environment. One of the rookie mistakes that new nature lovers make is choosing a tree based on emotions without considering other factors, such as what the tree actually needs to grow well. Rocky dry soil is not suited for a fruit bearing tree that requires a lot of water. Know what type of soil conditions you have, and what the tree needs before you commit. No one wants to see a tree suffer or stagnate, plus you will have wasted time and money. Also pick a spot that gets the necessary amount of sunlight that the tree desires and choose a place where the roots will have room to grow down and out within the ground. -BEN TERRINGTON