It’s hard to imagine living without trees nearby. Yet, for many people in more arid parts of the world tree encounters may be rare indeed. We often take them for granted, but trees play a huge role in the removal of contaminants from the air we breathe, in oxygen production, and in providing shade, shelter and habitat for wildlife.
Trees can really be appreciated in two different contexts: those trees which grew up in their natural range without human assistance, and those which were planted by humans and are living in close proximity to human activity. This second category of trees most certainly requires some ongoing intervention to maintain their health, appearance and safety.

In order to satisfy our desire to have trees in our lives, we can either visit distant parks and forests, or local parks and arboreta. Yet another option exists even closer to home in your yard. The most important bit of advice I have for anyone with an older tree in their garden is “cherish it…it’s precious…learn to live with it”. That said, if you are thinking of planting a new one, plan carefully. Having a coast redwood tree four feet from your house is akin to raising a Great Dane in your closet.

ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:

• Do I really know how tall 25 feet is? (come to BHN…we’ll show you)
• How much debris can I tolerate? (all trees drop something, sometime every year)
• Is solar radiation an issue? (deciduous trees allow winter sun but summer shade)
• How patient am I? (fast-growing trees often fail due to weak wood)
• How suitable is my fantasy tree? (climate, soil type, water)
• Will the neighbors object? (redwoods get really, really big)
• What do I expect from this tree? (flowers, fruit, fall-color, fragrance)

If any of this has piqued your curiosity, give us a call. Our staff has a real interest in arboriculture, and buyers Helene and John are always on the lookout for trees suitable to Bay Area gardens.

– Paul