FESTIVE GREETINGS from all of us at TreeCo!

It is almost unbelievable that we have reached the end of yet another year!

We have weathered disasters such as the floods, but all in all we are grateful to have had an excellent year, enabling us to expand our nursery, thereby facilitating all of our valued client’s businesses, by providing an even bigger and better selection of top quality trees to choose from.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank each one of you for your ongoing support and we look forward to working together with you, making 2010 a truly spectacular year for all.

We will be closed from the 15th December to the 11th January so order now to avoid disappointment.

We wish all our valued clients a blessed, safe and peaceful holiday season.

Bringing the Environment and Local Communities Together

This month Rudi and Leske had the pleasure of being able to donate 15 trees to the youth of CASE (Community Action towards Safer Environment) in Hanover Park, enabling them to work towards the betterment of their community. We felt honoured to receive the following letter from Duncan Souchon after the planting had taken place.

The CASE youth (Community Action towards a Safer Environment) of Hanover park spent the day of Sunday the 15th November planting trees donated by TreeCo in their school and community. TreeCo very kindly donated 15 beautiful trees to CASE as part of their Leadership and Environmental development programme with Educo Africa. The students got to planting the trees with great enthusiasm and were part of the decision-making of where they wanted the trees in their school. They chose for 3 trees to be planted outside the staff room, and 7 trees on the school perimeter near their youth hall. The wind could not blow away their spirits, and by lunch time, the ten trees were standing tall in their new homes with everything they needed; compost, water, and love.

After the photo session with the whole youth group standing proudly around their trees, the greater community was invited to attend a ceremony where the students had an opportunity to present their experiences and learning’s around leadership to their friends, family and community. The final 5 trees were then donated to this community as a whole to be planted anywhere in Hanover park that they choose. We would like to extend a huge token of thank you’s to TreeCo for helping to affect young people’s lives positively by giving them the opportunity to take a strong leadership role in their community and make a long term difference to the way the place looks.

Duncan Souchon

Spectacular Monthly Tree - December 2009

The Podocarpus falcatus or Outeniqua yellowwood is a tall, elegant evergreen with a straight, cylindrical trunk that offers a fantastic indigenous option for a Christmas tree, with the added benefit, of providing a magnificent addition to the garden where it will bestow countless years of pleasure. Read this month’s TreeCo Tree Review for in depth information on this superb tree.

At TreeCo we have a large stock-holding of the Podocarpus falcatus available and urge you to place your orders with us early to avoid disappointment!

Botanical Name: Podocarpus falcatus
Common Name: Outeniqua yellowwood

Size Available: 50kg

Quantity in Stock: 100

Average Tree Height: 2.3m

Average Trunk Thickness: 3cm

 

Botanical Name: Podocarpus falcatus

Common Name: Outeniqua yellowwood

Size Available: 1000kg

Quantity in Stock: 6

Average Tree Height: 3.5m

Average Trunk Thickness: 8cm

Should you require any further information, such as pricing details or should you wish to place an order, please contact Rudi on 082 829 5543 or Leske on 072 385 0270. Alternatively you are welcome to email us with your enquiry at info@treeco.co.za

Podocarpus falcatus (Outeniqua Yellowwood)

BASIC TREE DETAILS

Botanical Name: Podocarpus falcatus

Common Name: Outeniqua yellowwood

Genus: Pinaceae

RSA National Tree No’: 16

LANDSCAPING USES

The Outeniqua yellowwood is becoming increasingly popular as one of our loveliest indigenous specimen trees. This tall elegant evergreen adds distinction to any urban landscape, whether it is installed in a large garden, a park, or planted as an impressive avenue along a driveway or roadside. Where a really striking tree for a seaside garden is sought, Podocarpus falcatus is the answer, as it grows well in sandy soils and tolerates salt laden winds. This versatile tree makes an excellent container plant which can be used to add impact to patios and paved areas.

TREE SPECIFICATIONS

Height: 15m – 60m

Spread: 6m

Deciduous/Evergreen: Evergreen

Growth Habit: Podocarpus falcatus occurs mainly in afromontane forest and occasionally in coastal or sand forest.

Bark: The bark of the Outeniqua yellowwood is smooth, thin and greyish brown to dark brown in colour, flaking in round or rectangular patches.

Foliage: The small, narrow, leathery, dark green leaves of this yellowwood are arranged spirally. They are twisted at the base, sharply pointed and are somewhat sickle shaped.

Flowers: This tree does not bear flowers.

Fruit: The cones are very primitive and reduced. Those on the male trees are almost catkin-like while on the female trees only one seed is produced at the end of a woody stalk.

Seed: The large, fleshy, spherical seed is about 15mm in diameter, turning a deep yellow and taking a year to mature. Seeds may be found on the tree for most of the year.

GROWING REQUIREMENTS

Growing regions: Podocarpus falcatus is found in the moist areas of the Southern Cape especially around Knysna but occasionally in wooded ravines, mountain forest or coastal swamp forest and extending North to Limpopo and East to Mocambique.

Growing conditions: The Outeniqua yellowwood grows well in all soil types provided it is well composted and receives adequate water.

Best season: All year

Hardiness: This stunning tree is sensitive to drought but tolerates light frost and can even be grown close to the sea.

Propagation: Propagation is mainly from seed. Remove the fleshy part and plant in a mixture of well rotted compost and sand. Germination can take up to 6 months.

Growth rate: The growth rate is average, from about 50cm per year.

INTERESTING FEATURES

The Podocarpus falcatus is well known for its valuable pale yellow wood. The wood has been traditionally used in the manufacture of fine furniture for many years, in fact, most of the famous yellowwood antiques are made from the wood of this tree. The straight stems were used for the topmasts and yards of ships. The hard, attractive timber is still highly sought after in boat-building today. The bark is used for tanning leather while the sap is used as a remedy for various chest complaints.