Schotia brachypetala

Hi Errol
It sound as if your tree is still a bit young to start flowering. I have a young tree of about 6 years old and it has not yet produced flowers, despite the fact that it is in a sheltered position surrounded by other trees and shrubs, cutting down the wind to a minimum. My main concern is that the tree comes from a sub-tropical habitat with high humidity, often near rivers and invariably in a bushy environment. It grows best in Natal and Mpumalanga where summer rainfall is high, with a resting period during winter when no rain falls. As I am positioned south of this area, my trees flower only after summers with higher rainfall than normal - about every three to four years. Being so far from its preferred habitat, your tree may not flourish and it is possible that flowering will be delayed or suppressed altogether. All I can suggest is that you water it very well throughout the summer months and make sure it is well composted and mulched during this time. I'd also be tempted to remove the mulch during the wet winter period to keep it as dry as possible during its dormant season.

Hi Sheila

To be frank, none of the above! Frequent, small quantities of water will result in shallow roots and this is something you most definitely don't want. The roots must be encouraged to seek water deep in the ground where they will anchor the tree firmly, search for nutrients, and, in the event of our frequent droughts, will be able to seek water far below the surface. My suggestion is that you water only once a week but use at least five buckets of water, allowing each bucketful to sink down before adding the next. As the tree grows, you will have to increase the number of buckets.

Better still, if you have a hose, let the water just dribble out for a couple of hours. I put the end of the hose in a tin can (baked bean type) so that the water flow does not make a deep hole in the ground.

A thick layer of mulch around the tree to the drip area will help keep the soil moist and cool, while it feeds it with nutrients and encourages bacterial growth. Just make sure that the mulch is kept away from the area immediately around the trunk.

One last thing. Water your tree even if you have had rain, unless the rain has been particularly good - 20 or 30 mm. Light rain will not go deep enough to feed the roots.

Kind regards
Lorraine

Hi Blake

As lovely as this tree is, I have some reservations about it adapting to the climate experienced in Bloem. This species originates from environments with a relatively high air humidity, where it grows along the edges of forests and along streams. It can tolerate light frosts from time to time but will be unlikely survive frequent or heavy frost conditions. If it were to survive, it most certainly will not thrive. The climatic conditions in the Free State will negatively affect growth and it may not flower at all.

Sorry I can't be more positive. If you decide to take the chance anyway, make sure that you protect the tree in winter with some sort of covering (sacking, shade cloth) for the first three or four years.

Kind regards
Lorraine

Hi Louis

The Weeping Boer Bean may be an option but I must draw your attention to the following:

Frost resistance: This tree comes from a sub-tropical region and is only half-hardy to frost. This means it will need to be covered during winter for the first two or three years and will suffer from some frost damage during the winters thereafter. It will be seriously damaged if frost is heavy and a black frost will in all likelihood kill it. The icy winter winds of Johannesburg will also be detrimental.

Although it is away from the paving, the nectar dripping from the flowers will preclude the use of, for example, garden furniture beneath it during flowering time; however this may not be problematic because the cold weather will certainly reduce or even prevent the tree from flowering.

With reference to Acacias, some do in fact have an extensive sub-surface root system along with the tap root. Over time these roots thicken and can become a problem with paving and garden walls.

Random Harvest, an indigenous nursery near Randburg, has developed a list of almost 50 smaller trees with non-invasive root systems for planting near pools and which are adapted to conditions in Gauteng. This list is also useful for trees for smaller gardens. Should you decide against planting the Boer-bean, you may find an alternative in the list. Go to:
http://www.randomharvestnursery.co.za/RandomHarvestNews/IndigenousGarden...

I hope this is useful in making your final decision - one has to be so careful with one's choice when there is only space for one or two trees in a garden.

Kind regards
Lorraine

Hi Anthony

This doesn't seem to be too much of a problem as the tree is still quite small. The following two articles will give you good information on how to go about this process. You shouldn't have a major problem and with care the transplant has every chance of being successful.

http://www.ehow.com/how_12225730_uproot-tree-killing.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_7378232_uproot-trees-transplanting.html

Tree planting methods have changed from the old method of a huge deep hole filled with rich soil and nutrients. I was sceptical of the 'new' method at first but have had much better results since I have utilised it. The following article is very used in explaining how to re-plant the tree:

http://www.treepeople.org/plant-right-way

All the best with this - post some photos of the process!

Kind regards
Lorraine

Hi Tienie

My sincere apologies for not having replied to your query.

Unfortunately I am unable to answer your question. This is a question I am asked over and over again about all sorts of trees but there is almost no data available on this. Members of the pea-flower family usually flower quite young, but the Coral trees (also pea-flower family) don't flower until they are ten years old.

I do hope your tree flowers soon.

Kind regards
Lorraine

Hi Rod

Firstly, my apologies for the tardy reply.

I doubt that the grass has anything to do with the tree not flowering.

This species originates from sub-tropical areas (See 'Distribution and Habitat' above) with a relatively high air humidity and warm winter temperatures. Frost is rare but it can tolerate light frosts from time to time with some die back. The tree will not thrive in cold winter weather conditions. Frequent or heavy frost and icy wind conditions will ultimately kill it.

The climatic conditions in your area will negatively affect growth and flowering of your tree. The reason for its initial growth and flowering is probably due to having been in a protected nursery environment.

Unless you are able to provide protection in the form of heavy shade netting or other covering during winter for the first three years, you may find that the tree will remain small and possibly not flower at all.

Kind regards
Lorraine