Tree care after planting (TLC)

You have so far invested time and money to get the trees in the ground so itis logical to look after them as best you can.

Weed growth is bad news for the young tree as the weeds compete for water and their fine roots can, in light rain fall, stop any moisture getting to the tree roots. There are two ways to deal with this - you can very carefully spray or you can cultivate the 1 meter diameter circle. Well it is not really cultivation I suppose but it involves using a hoe.

Where we live, and the need for good wind shelter belts!

Our bit of dirt is in an area called West Melton in the Cantebury plains of the South Island of New Zealand. The soil is fertile but shallow laid atop alluvial flood plain ie. stones so is free draining. In summer the Northwest wind is a problem - strong and gusty and warm. It is a product of the Fohn effect where the wind passes over a mountain range dumping rain on one side and on the other blowing onto the plains as a warm (sometimes hot) dry wind.