This Summer, Care for Trees?!

Just as we all are troubled by record-breaking temperatures every year, can you even imagine the sufferings of the trees and vegetation in our surroundings? Hot & dry summers can have an impact on your trees, especially when they are young and growing.

Based on NOAA's global analysis, the 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 2005, and 7 of the 10 have occurred just since 2014. 2020 was the second-warmest year on record based on NOAA’s temperature data, and land areas were record warm.

Similar to the humans who find themselves lethargic and lifeless during these hottest summers, when water is scarce, the saplings you had planted last year also tend to deteriorate. Or when not taken care of in extreme conditions, die. 

At times like these, human intervention is key to helping your trees grow up healthy. Here are a few suggestions or tips which may help in protecting the saplings and young plants you love...

1. Mulch, a fresh layer!

Applying mulch provides some much-needed help for saplings, especially around the root area. Proper application of mulch is a good way to help young trees take in more water and set down strong root systems. Sufficient mulch of about 2 inches thick will not only retain the moisture, but also discourage the growth of weeds. Just do leave some space between the mulch and the base of the sapling.

2. Protect from direct sunlight

A shade net or any cloth for that matter can prevent your young sapling from harsh sunlight in the soaring heat. Shade cloth does not provide complete shade, but improves the diffusion of light and provides ventilation for the plants.

The cloth must be well-supported by 3-4 strong sticks or bamboo so as to act as a windbreak also. The sticks need to be inserted enough into the soil so that they stand strong against the winds. Then a shade cloth can be tied to these sticks in such a way that the plant receives sufficient sunlight, but harsh rays are blocked. Do make sure the plant growth should not be obstructed by the cloth. 

3. Water the plant!

Water the plants early in the morning or late evening when the temperature is not that high. Focus on the root zone to maximize the amount of water they get each time. Knowing how to water your plants properly should be your priority during the summer.

You may try keeping a perforated plastic bottle underground, which you fill every time. This, over a period of time, allows water to seep deeper into the ground, which encourages deeper root growth. 

4. Care of the soil

Soil is a vital part of the natural environment. It’s always better to check the surrounding soil of your plants. When the soil is extremely compact, it prevents the tree from getting the water and nutrients it needs. When the soil is sandy, it can not hold moisture and nutrients. The soil must be a good mix of these both impregnated with mulch so that earthworms can flourish in it. 

5. Watch out for signs of heat stress

Keep a sharp eye out for heat stress on particularly hot days. Common signs include drooping and wilting of the leaves. In case of heat stress, give your tree sufficient water to help it recover. 

A young plant must be taken care of during its first 3-5 years. Then it's just a piece of cake! We are doing the same and shall continue to do that. Today is the 12th anniversary of Gifting Trees... I think we have just begun!

The Black Ebony Tree

Here is the tree which is described in a perfect manner by its name. The generic name is derived from greek word dios which means ‘divine’, and pyros meaning ‘fruit’, referring to the excellent fruit of the genus. The specific name melanoxylon means ‘dark wood’. The Tendu (Diospyros Melanoxylon/टेंभूर्णी, टेमरू, तेंदू) is medium-sized handsome tree, which is also known as Black Ebony. Its small flowers appear from April to June on new shoots.

Tendu, though a minor forest produce (MFP) in Central India, is very underutilized tree. The most economically significant use of this species is that its leaves are used to roll bidis (an indigenous traditional cigarette, which uses the kendu leaf for rolling instead of paper). The leaves possess unrivalled qualities of flavour, colour, flexible and leathery texture, decay resistance and easy workability, which make them admirably suitable for wrapping bidis.

However, most of the harvest goes waste as the fruit has never been explored for its nutritional aspects. This lesser known fruit is edible & is delicious too! Once fully ripen, the yellow pulp is soft & has a pleasant and sweet taste.

Tendu is a seasonal fruit available mainly in summer. The fruit ripening takes almost a year. These edible fruits are largely eaten & disseminated by birds, notably hornbills. The tree produces good seed in alternate years. The fruits and powdered seeds are sold in local markets and eaten. 

The tree is deciduous or evergreen depending on its habitat. In a dry locality, it is leafless for a short time in the hot weather, regaining its leaves in May-June. In a moist locality, it is evergreen. Though the tree has small flowers, the tree is regularly visited by insects and butterflies. It is the larval host plant for the Symphaedra nais & Spindasis vulcanus butterflies.

The tree has been revered in Ayurvedic medicine. The seeds have been prescribed as a cure for mental disorders, nervous breakdowns and palpitations of the heart. The fruits have a cooling and an astringent effect. Dried flowers are reportedly useful in urinary, skin and blood diseases. The bark is astringent; its decoction is used in diarrhoea. Its regeneration is through seeds, cuttings and root suckers. Soaking seeds for about 12 hours in cold water improves germination. Stump planting has been found to be as good as direct seeding. 

Tendu is the most widely distributed and tolerant species when considered to soil requirements. It grows on poor denuded soils, hot and dry hill slopes, stony soils and also heavy clays. It demands light; it is drought and frost hardy but sensitive to water-logging. It is coppiceable & tolerance to pruning makes it a good fodder tree. The tree also pollards well, although the growth of the pollard shoots is slow. Its cultivation on field boundaries or distributed in field crops, such as oilseed and cereal crops, appears to be a feasible and attractive proposition. Its deep tap-rooting habit would minimize competition with annual crops. It gives good quality charcoal. 

The fruit tree being rich in nutritional, medicinal and processing qualities can play a very significant & vital role in the livelihood security of the rural communities through enhanced household income, employment generation and environmental protection. Tendu fruits have a great potential for commercial cultivation. In fact, plantation of Tendu tree along with other local fruits of our region like Ber, should be done in city gardens and residential areas.

The Yellow Snake Tree

Trumpet flower tree or Padal (Stereospermum Tetragonum/पाडळ) is a moderate sized deciduous tree, often buttressed. Flowers are fragrant, yellow with reddish-purple veins and velvety at the mouth, trumpet shaped in panicles. Flowering occurs during May to July. The fruit is long, curved and brown in colour. This, probably, is the source of its common name, Yellow Snake tree.

Padal is often grown as an ornamental tree, valued for its fragrant flowers. It grows best in a sunny position, tolerating light shade. The tree succeeds in a wide range of well-drained soils. The tree can survive forest fires. It is one of the commonest trees to be seen in the savannah lands of India, apparently able to shoot up yearly in spite of fire, and to grow on into a tree if only a short period of immunity from fire can be obtained. 

The tree can be propagated easily from seeds, cuttings and root-suckers. Its flowers and tender young fruits are known to be edible and eaten as a cooked vegetable. The Padal provides an excellent fuel; the wood also makes a good charcoal.

The tree is associated with the famous Padaleeshwarar temple at Tiruppathiripuliyur (pathiri is tamil name of Padal), Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. It is believed that Goddess Parvathi reached Tiruppathiripuliyur after worship of 1008 Shiva sthalams. She worshipped the Lord Padaleeshwarar installed under a Padal tree. After years of penance, Lord Shiva appeared and he united with the Goddess under the sacred Padal tree, which is now the sthala vruksha (holy tree) of the temple. The tree is associated with the Ekapatala, sister of Goddess Parvathi who took only one Patala leaf for food. The tree is also sacred to the Jains, as the 12th Tirthankara - Bhagwan Vaspujay Ji attained enlightenment under this tree. 

The Padal root is one of the ten ingredients in reputed Dashamula, a popular Ayurvedic formulation for fatigue. Padal is reported to be astringent, cardiotonic, cooling, diuretic and tonic. It relieves the three doshas, overcomes anorexia, difficulty in breathing, oedema, piles, vomiting, hiccough and thirst. Parts from the tree are used as anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, antiemetic and febrifuge; also in perfumes and medicines. The flower is used for removing intestinal worms and is also used to treat mental disorders, jaundice and venereal diseases. 

The sacred & hardy tree easily performs well in the urban settlements and grows moderately fast. Its beautiful fragrant flowers add grace to the city gardens.