TreeCo Big Tree Gallery

Testimonial of the Month - EP Landscapes

Gert Smit of EP Landscapes approached TreeCo to supply him with trees for a somewhat specialised project on a farm in the exclusive Jonkershoek district.

Part of his brief was to restore an area that had been disturbed by reintroducing Old English oaks or Quercus robur. The area required really large trees and TreeCo was able to supply magnificent 2000kg specimens.

Rudi met Gert on site to assess the area and determine the size of the crane truck that would be needed for the project. He then advised Gert on the preparation of the holes such as using the correct amount of pelletised organic fertiliser and soaking the holes really well with water prior to planting. Notably, EP Landscapes utilises a specially prepared mix of slow release fertiliser that ensures a newly planted tree will have 'food' for many years. 

When Rudi arrived bang on time to deliver the trees, he took complete control of the planting process, physically getting right into the holes to ensure that the trees were all positioned correctly before returning soil to the holes.

Gert really appreciates Rudi and Leske’s outstanding service and commitment to delivering the very best in quality and value for money. Whenever Gert needs trees for a project Rudi emails photos of the trees he has available and always welcomes clients to the nursery should they wish to choose their own trees. Gert says TreeCo’s after sales service is outstanding as Rudi really goes the extra mile to ensure that all the trees he supplies are doing well by monitoring them for months after planting. The quality of the trees is such however, that Gert has enjoyed a 100% success rate with trees purchased from TreeCo. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Re-cap of the Numerous Benefits that Tree's Provide

Most of us plant trees in our cities, gardens or communities to provide beauty and shade and, while these are obviously excellent reasons for planting trees, there are numerous other benefits which could be considered when choosing trees.

Trees alter the environment by improving the quality of the air we breathe, attracting wildlife, conserving water and moderating the effects of sun, wind and rain.

Within the urban environment trees can provide privacy, complement architecture, emphasize views and provide a beautiful backdrop for other plants. DISCOUNT CODE TSMD0010 When buildings or houses are shaded by trees the cost of air conditioning can be reduced by as much as 10% to 15%. Properties that have been beautified by planting trees within the landscape are more valuable than those without while street trees provide curb appeal, considerably raising the value of a whole area, as well as reducing run off and reflected heat from sidewalks and roads.

The quality of air is greatly improved by trees and the impact of global warming can be considerably reduced by planting them, as they absorb pollutants such as carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide through their leaves, while returning oxygen to the environment. We can encourage birds and other wildlife to inhabit an area through the addition of trees, thereby recreating the natural cycles of growth, reproduction and decomposition that may have been lost through urban development.

Whether you choose trees for shade, colour, fruit, windbreaks, wildlife or for improving the environment, trees are a genuine and valuable investment, not only for our properties but also for our future.

Exciting Discounts from TreeCo to you!

This month Rudi and Leske are introducing an exciting discount program that will offer you even better value for money!

 

All YOU have to do to take advantage of this fantastic invitation is to find and click on the special monthly code which can be found within this months tree article to email us with your order and claim a super 5% discount on all your tree orders with us for the month: OR....visit us at the nursery, let us help you choose your trees, enjoy a great cup of coffee with us and get a fabulous 10% discount on all your purchases for the month! Now that’s really great value and just one more way in which we strive to give you, our valued customers, absolutely the best!

Spectacular Monthly Tree - Podacarpus latifolius

The well known Podocarpus latifolius or Real yellowwood is a magnificent medium to large evergreen that is an excellent choice for gardens, parks, streets and any other open, public areas. The narrow, glossy green leaves are an excellent textural foil for other shrubs and trees in the garden. Both male and female trees occur, with the cones on the male trees resembling catkins while the female trees develop round, blue-grey seeds that take on a purplish hue when mature. Podocarpus latifolius is South Africa’s national tree and is protected. This handsome tree almost became extinct in some areas, due to overexploitation by the timber industry to meet the heavy demand for this magnificent timber by fine furniture manufacturers. Nowadays, yellowwood furniture fetches high prices due to its relative rarity.

Botanical Name	Podacarpus latifolius
Common Name	Real Yellowwood
Bag Size	100 lt
Quantity Available	50
Average Tree Height & Trunk Thickness	3.5m  5-6cm

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.

Looking Good List for June 2010

TreeCo provides our readers with a downloadable, updated Looking Good List every month.

Please note that should you not find the tree that you are looking for on this list, TreeCo will readily source what you require, on your behalf. Rudi and Leske Neethling personally ensure that all trees supplied by TreeCo, conform to our high quality standards.

Please CLICK HERE to download our latest Looking Good List.

This document is available as a PDF document and will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader loaded on your computer, please click on the link below which will allow you to download this free program quickly and easily.

DOWNLOAD ADOBE ACROBAT READER

Trichelia emetica - Natal Mahogany

Trichilia emetica is a magnificent evergreen hardwood. The lovely glossy, deep green, drooping foliage forms a rounded crown, creating dense, dark shade. With its low branching habit and sturdy single trunk the Natal mahogany has long been one of our most popular indigenous ornamental trees. When the flowers begin to appear from December, the sweet scent can be enjoyed on warm summer evenings while those beautiful jewels of the garden, the sunbirds, can be observed delighting in the generous amounts of nectar. The bright red and black seeds are enjoyed by a number of bird species while a variety of butterfly larvae feed on this tree. In the wild, where antelope, monkeys and giraffe forage on the fruit and foliage, Trichilia emetica is an accurate indicator of palatable grass species.

 

BASIC TREE DETAILS

 

Botanical Name	Trichilia emetica
Common Name	Natal mahogany
Genus	Meliaceae
RSA National Tree No’	301

 

LANDSCAPING USES

 

Natal mahogany is a superb shade tree that is perfect for any parking area as it doesn’t grow too high, but has a wonderful wide spreading crown, offering ample protection from the sun. The roots of this beautiful, fast growing tree are non-invasive, so it is quite safe to plant it near any type of paving, making it an ideal choice for shading a patio where it will provide welcome relief from the heat in summer. Plant the Trichilia emetica as a magnificent specimen tree on a lawn or as a striking avenue along a street or driveway where it will always be admired. This adaptable tree has been successfully used for soil conservation and erosion control as well as being widely planted as a windbreak in both urban and rural areas.

 

TREE SPECIFICATIONS

 

Height	8m-20m
Spread	6m-8m
Deciduous/Evergreen	Evergreen
Growth Habit	Trichilia emetica is found along streams and rivers as well as in woodland, coastal forest, montane forest and savannah.
Bark	The dark grey to brown bark is smooth but can become rougher as the tree ages.
Foliage	The Natal mahogany has dark green compound leaves with each pair of leaflets alternate or sub-opposite with a single leaflet at the tip. The upper surface of the glossy leaves is smooth while the underside is covered with dense, felt like hairs.
Flowers	The small, creamy- green, sweet scented, trumpet shaped flowers are carried in dense axillary sprays from August to November.
Fruit	The furry, grey-green fruit appears in bunches from December to April. Each fruit is divided into three valves that carry 3-6 seeds which are released when it ripens and bursts open.
Seed	The black seeds are almost entirely enveloped by a bright red aril and look similar to a lucky bean. It should be noted that the outer coat of the seed is poisonous.

 

GROWING REQUIREMENTS

  

Growing regions	Trichilia emetica is found in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to the Red sea, throughout East and Central Africa and from the Congo to South Africa.
Growing conditions	The Natal mahogany prefers a sunny or semi-shaded position, plenty of compost and a moderate amount of water.
Best season	All year
Hardiness	This lovely tree needs to be protected from frost. When kept well watered throughout the year, Trichilia emetica grows extremely fast, it can however withstand long periods of drought when mature.
Propagation	The seeds need to be planted when fresh otherwise germination can be difficult, but cuttings are a quicker and easier method of propagation.
Growth rate	Fast

 

INTERESTING FEATURES

Trichilia emetica has a wide variety of uses. The skinned seeds are edible. When they are soaked in water or ground, they enhance the flavour of spinach dishes, while a sweet milky liquid is extracted from the arils. The oil that is extracted from the seed kernels and husks is excellent for soap and candle making as well as being used as a superior furniture oil. The oil is also widely used in cosmetics and as a food preservative. The powdered bark of this remarkable tree is used as an emetic and is effective for the treatment of rheumatism. The handsome reddish-brown wood is used extensively for fine furniture, musical instruments, dugout canoes, fish floats and for the traditional carvings that are sold along the roadside. 

      T.emetica Fruit, Seeds & Foliage  T.emetica Bark           T.emetica Interesting Furniture