Читать книгу The Trees of San Francisco онлайн

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  LAVENDER IN THE TREE BASIN. Most street trees in San Francisco are planted as young trees in 2-foot-square cuts in the sidewalk, and people have a natural desire to plant flowers or other plants in the basins. Anything planted there will compete with the young tree just getting established, but plants with woody stems—such as lavender, rosemary, and ivy—are especially bad. Mature trees are not affected much, but the aggressive roots of these plants can choke a young tree by competing for water and nutrients.

  AGGRESSIVE PRUNING. Why are so many San Franciscans afraid to let their trees grow? Trees are topped, or aggressively pruned, for many reasons, chiefly to keep upper branches out of overhead wires and to protect views. But I suspect many tree owners think they are helping the tree by lopping off the ends of branches to reduce the tree’s height or size, or to make the tree bushier or denser. Some plants react well to being cut back hard in this way, but most trees are not among them. Take my advice: let your tree grow, and help create a mature canopy your neighbors will appreciate.