Journal of the Department of Agriculture, , Series 4

Volume 8 Number 1 1967 Article 8

1-1-1967

Ornamental trees for the farm garden

P Luff

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Recommended Citation Luff, P (1967) "Ornamental trees for the farm garden," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 8 : No. 1 , Article 8. Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol8/iss1/8

This article is brought to you for free and open access by Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FARM AND HOME

ORNAMENTAL TREES FOR THE FARM GARDEN

By PETER LUFF, Senior Instructor in Floriculture

THE need for trees in the farm garden is being realized by many people. Trees around the homestead are required to give such features as shade, colour, fragrance and many other advantages to generally make an area more livable. Besides these advantages, trees appear to help smaller flourish by increasing the humidity and providing vari­ ous degrees of shade and sunlight.

The farmhouse that stands alone, bare Tree for areas with 15 to 20 inches annual of vegetation, is gradually disappearing in rainfall Western Australia. Many farmers have pycnantha: This is the golden the foresight to leave an uncleared area wattle, which attains a height of around the house. This helps by giving about 15 ft. The tree is dense, privacy and protection from such elements having large, shiny, dark green as damaging wind and high temperatures. foliage. Introducing ornamental trees into the farmhouse garden further enhances these Brachychiton populneus is commonly advantages. The combination of these known as the kurrajong and ideas adds to the aesthetic appeal of the reaches a height of about 20 ft. homestead. The flowers are small and white ( and the foliage a dull mid to light Many property owners believe tha green. ornamental trees are time-consuming anc costly. This is not so, providing that the botryoides is grown for its right trees are selected. Many ornamental height and shade. The common trees require virtually no attention once name for this tree is the false they have been correctly planted. mahogany. The positioning of these ornamental Eucalyptus forrestiana, with its abun­ trees is most important. Once the posi­ dance of red fruit is aptly named tion has been decided the tree type should the fuchsia gum. The tree be selected according to such charac­ reaches a height of about 15 ft. teristics as height, shade, structure, foliage Eucalyptus torquata has pink flowers and flowers. which are the main feature of Once you have decided upon the type this medium height tree. This is of tree required the tree should be selected commonly known as the coral °y name. Information on the species to gum. select may be obtained from catalogues Hakea laurina can be a rather dense published by the Forests Department or which is suitable for a commercial nurserymen or from the Flori- screening effect. Its common cultural Section of the Department of name is the pin cushion hakea Agriculture. because of the shape of its flowers. Some trees that would be desirable The height of this tree is about around the farm garden are listed below. 12 ft. 35

Journal of Agriculture, Vol 8 No 1 1967 Rowers of the coastal moort, Eucalyptus platypus variety heterophylla

Melaleuca stypheliodes is a very tall Hakea multilineata—Grass leaved tree with prickly dark green hakea. leaves. These give it the common name of the prickly paperbark. Pinus halepensis—Aleppo pine. Pittosporum phUlyraeoides—Weeping Tamarix aphylla: This tree is the very pittosporum. salt-resistant evergreen tamarisk or athel tree. The foliage has a Schinus molle—Pepper corn tree. bluish appearance and the tree attains a height of 20 ft. Trees for areas with more than 20 inches annual rainfall Other trees suitable for areas that receive between 15 and 20 inches of rain­ Acacia baileyana: This is the Coota- fall are: mundra wattle, which is grown for its silver foliage and yellow Callitris calcarata—Black cypress pine. flowers. The height it attains is Casuarina glauca—Grey buloke. about 20 ft. Ceratonia siliqua—Carob bean tree. Agonis flexuosa is commonly known as Eucalyptus camaldulensis—River red the willow myrtle or peppermint gum. tree. This tree reaches a height Eucalyptus caldocalyx—Sugar gum. of about 30 feet and is used mainly Eucalyptus crucis—Silver mallee. as a shade tree. Eucalyptus lehmannii—Bushby yate. Brachychiton acerifolia, better known Eucalyptus platypus — Round leaf as the Illawarra flame tree, is moort grown for its glossy foliage and Eucalyptus stricklandii—Stricklands vivid red flowers. The height of gum. the tree at maturity is about 40 ft. 36

Journal of Agriculture, Vol 8 No 1 1967 CaMstemon lanceolatus is a bottle Other plants that will do well in inland brush, which, with its profusion areas receiving more than 20 inches of red flowers, can be grown to annual rainfall are: screen unpleasant sites. This tree Acacaia decurrens—Black wattle. is also known as C. cintrinus and Albizzia lophantha—Crested wattle. it reaches a height of 15 to 20 ft. Callitris robusta — Rottnest island Eucalyptus leucoxylon rosea, more cypress. commonly known as the pink Eucalyptus caldocalyx nana—Dwarf flowering whitewood, is grown for sugar gum. shade, bright pink flowers and Eucalyptus erythrocorys—Illyarie. white bark. The height attained by this tree is about 30 ft. Eucalyptus kruseana—Kruse's mallee. Grevillea robusta—Silky oak. Hymenosporum flavum, known as the Melaleuca nesophila—Western tea tree frangipanni because of its myrtle. fragrant golden blossom. The habit of the tree is upright and Myoporum insulate—Boobialla. it reaches a height of about 25 ft. Pinus spp.—Pine trees. Papulus nigra—Black poplar. Prunus blireiana: Belonging to the Tristanea conferta—Queensland box plum group, this lovely ornamen­ tal tree has been given the name tree. of the double pink cherry plum. Watering The tree is deciduous and has If available water for the garden plants bronze to green foliage in summer. is inclined to be saline, select salt tolerant The height reached is about 15 ft. trees such as Tamarix aphylla, the ever-

Buds and flowers of the coral gum Eucalyptus torquata

Journal of Agriculture, Vol 8 No 1 1967 green tamarisk, or Eucalyptus botryoides, tree from the container, with as little root the false mahogany. disturbance as possible. If the roots are Naturally, spring-planted trees will need curled around the soil ball, carefully more watering to establish them during separate and straighten them. If the tree the summer months than trees planted in is not in a container even more care is autumn. needed to limit root damage. Plant the I would suggest buying the trees in young tree and drive a stake about 6 ft. autumn, as at this time of the year they long and an inch square next to the tree. will be hardened off and will not be root- Water the plant well to remove all air bound. This will allow planting to be done spaces and tie it firmly to the stake. after the first good rains. Inspect the tie to the stake periodically. If rain is spasmodic during the winter If the tie material is starting to cut into the trees will greatly benefit from an the tree bark, remove it and tie again. occasional watering. Watering will prob­ ably not be essential during the following Care during early growth summer months but if plenty of water is Pruning is not necessary during early available, it will greatly hasten growth. growth unless it is desirable to keep the lower branches up. This will allow garden Planting the tree seating and growing plants to be situated beneath the tree. This pruning is done Although there is always the temptation by removing the lateral or side growth to to buy large trees, best results are usually a height of about six feet. The only other obtained from small trees in their first pruning they may need is to cut out any year of growth. These are more capable dead wood that may appear and also any of adjusting themselves to their new branches that may cross each other and environment. rub. On receiving the trees, dig holes in the required positions about 2 ft. deep and 2 ft. Always be on the lookout for pests and in diameter. Fill these holes with a mix­ diseases, although few appear on orna­ ture of one part sand, one part friable mental trees in farm gardens. If the tree loam and one part old animal manure. If does become affected, control measures loam or sand are not available, use two should be carried out promptly. parts top soil and one part old animal Any further information on ornamental manure. trees may be obtained by contacting the Water the tree in its container and the Floricultural Section of the Department prepared hole well. Carefully remove the of Agriculture, Jarrah Road, South Perth.

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Journal of Agriculture, Vol 8 No 1 1967