The Secrets of TREESHOP Revealed, South-Africa’s boutique Nursery

July 19, 2009 - PRLog -- The sandy road winds through the colorful palette of Mopane woodland in Botswana’s Moremi Game Park.  A dream is born:  bring the beauty of South African indigenous trees into gardens and patios by the planting of indigenous trees as well as the artistic application of indigenous trees in containers.  Imagine – recreating the African bush in your garden or patio by way of say, a mini woodland of Mopane trees or whatever takes your fancy.  This dream is embodied in “Naturetrees™” – the brand product of TREESHOP which captures the quintessential beauty and character of indigenous trees in their environment!

The foundation of any nursery is its stock.  In order to offer a wide range of indigenous trees, seeds must be obtained and successfully germinated.  Generally, seeds of indigenous trees are not commercially readily available. Serious cultivators must collect seeds wherever and whenever possible and available. A knowledge and understanding of seeds, gained mostly through first hand experience, is necessary.  This in turn requires some basic knowledge of the various species and their locality.  Then if seeds are to be found, discernment is necessary as to when and which seeds are to be collected.  Many seeds are rendered useless through insect infestation.  

Seed germination is more an art than a science.  Every seed has its own “personality”.  You must approach it with loving understanding and patience.  The seeds of some species germinate profusely. Others reward you with a single seed germinating out of a batch of a hundred the first time around and perhaps another 3 seeds germinating the following season!  Patience and determination are the virtues called for in germination.  No wonder then, that some indigenous species are virtually impossible to cultivate.  Examples of these are: Burkea africana (Burkea / Wildesering); Ochna pulchra (Peeling-bark Ochna / Lekkerbreek); Diospyros whyteana (Bladder-nut / Swartbas) and Cyphostemma currorii (Cobas / Kobas or Nooiensboud).  

Some seeds are as large as a man’s thumb.  Their first leaves resemble a green flower! An example of this is Combretum zeyheri (Large-fruit Bushwillow / Raasblaar).  The seed of  Colophospermum mopane (Mopane / Mopanie) when germinating, resembles a top view of the human brain!

Other seeds are are so tiny that they look like dust, example Ficus abutifolia (Large-leaved Rock Fig / Grootblaarrotsvy.  It’s hard to imagine that seeds smaller than a pinhead can grow into a mighty Ficus (Fig Tree) capable of splitting rocks with their tenacious and beautiful roots!

After germination comes planting out and growing into a quality nursery specimen.  Planting out the seedling requires the correct plant mix that contains the correct amount of micro elements and nutrients.  This differs from species to species.

At TREESHOP, trees are watered through an automatic micro irrigation system.

A special feature of the trees cultivated at TREESHOP are that they are only put up for sale when they have developed a sturdy trunk which doesn’t require staking.  We have found that trees in this condition are more frost and drought resistant and can better handle transplanting.

Trees are Earth’s climate watchdogs.  They are an important contribution to the solution of the dilemma of global warming.  You can make a difference! Make a contribution to offset your carbon footprint by planting as many trees as possible on your property and in your neighborhood.

To learn more about Treeshop or the order trees for your South African landscape, please visit http://www.Treeshop.co.za/

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Treeshop is a boutique nursery that provides over 60 species of indigenous trees. We cultivate trees for landscaping and general beautification. To learn more about Treeshop or the order trees for your South African landscape, please visit http://www.Treeshop.co.za/