There are only two kinds of environmentalists - the tree huggers and the bystanders.
Why not get proactive and grow your own tree? In a city where the quality of living drops with each new car on the streets, trees can help offset pollution, emit oxygen, buffer sound and harsh sunlight and prevent soil erosion.
The careful planting of local species will ensure a plethora of birds, butterflies and little creatures that will have a new home.
If you've always wanted to plant a tree, but lack the requisite information, here's all you need to start colouring your city green. The list below will solve your tree planting woes.
Note: The local names of the species have been mentioned, which the maalis and people at the nursery are acquainted with.
What trees should I plant?
>>Choose indigenous (local) species that will attract wildlife. You will be amazed to see the variety of birds that will visit. The Gulmohar, Copperpod and Rain trees that fill the streets are not regional and come with their fair share of problems.
>>Ficus species like the Banyan and Pipal can damage buildings and structures, due to their complex root systems.
>>Trees that grow well in our climate and support life include the Bael, Haldu, Kadamb, Mahua, Shivan and Arjun.
>>If leaf litter is a problem, plant evergreen or semi-evergreen trees like Jamun, Karanj, Bakul and Mango that do not shed leaves in winter.
>>For beautiful flowers, Palas, Kanchan, Red Silk or Yellow Silk Cotton, Indian Laburnum and Jungli Bhindi are most suited.
>>If your building faces the sea, you can plant tolerant species like Undi, Samudraphal and Indian Almond.
Where can I plant more trees?
>>In schools, colleges, compounds, gardens near you. Make sure there is someone to care for the tree.
>>In your area: When roads are being widened, it's a good time to contact your ward officer for planting a tree. They will inform you which areas need to be greened.
>>When trees fall in the monsoon: Usually the Gulmohars fall first. You can replace them with hardy, local species.
What's a good season to plant?
>>Winter is a wonderful season to plant a tree in Mumbai. Trees go into a dormant phase in winter, so it's a good time for a new sapling to adjust to the shock of being transplanted from the confines of the nursery.
>> You can also plant at the onset of the monsoon, when the rains will cover the tree's watering needs.
>>Mumbai's summers can be quite hard on a tree, which will need plenty of protection to survive the heat, including shade and extra water.
Planting and caring for your tree
>>Choose a space: Make sure your sapling is not too close to any buildings, structures, power lines, street lights or fire hydrants.
>>Choose a sapling that is at least six months old. The older the sapling, better the survival rate when replanted.
>>Loosen up the soil a bit, so the roots can breathe in their new home.
>>Keep a distance of 15-30 feet between the trees you plant, depending on their size at maturity.
>>When you peel off the plastic bag covering the sapling, the height of the mud cake around the roots is equal to the length of the hole you dig in the ground. Don't cover too much of the stem, because it may rot later.
>>Tie a stick or two to the stem for additional support, if required, at a height of two feet and five feet. A jute or coir rope is better than a plastic cord that can cut into the delicate stem as the tree grows. Remove after a year.
>>If you wish to plant a tree on the pavement, contact your ward officer. He may put you in touch with the head of the Horticulture Department, or ask for a letter. The BMC will provide you with saplings and a tree-guard at no cost, and will also plant the tree at the desired location. However, it is recommended that you can purchase good quality, indigenous saplings from a nursery. Do note that the tree-guards they provide are often stolen.
>>You can ask a nursery to send someone to plant the tree, or ask the local gardener to do the same, if you can't manage by yourself.
>>Learn from your mistakes. All trees won't survive the elements.
Watering needs
>>A sapling needs plenty of watering for at least two years, after which it can thrive without intervention.
>>You will need to water every alternate day, using a small bucket of water. No watering is required during the monsoons. Don't over-water or under-water.
>> Mulching (cover the base of the tree with leaves, litter or organic manure which reduces the watering need and reduces the tempertaure) a tree makes life easier for the tree and its caretaker. Once you mulch the soil around a tree, you only need to water it every alternate day for the first week, then once a week (for the next two months) and only once a fortnight after this.
Mulching reduces soil temperature and water needs.
In order to mulch, collect enough leaf litter or sugarcane bagasse (from a garden or sugarcane juicewallah) to fill a circumference of three feet and a height of three inches around your tree. Add this organic matter to the soil, keeping a distance of three inches from the plant stem and your mulch is ready. Make sure you instruct the gardener or cleaner not to sweep the leaf litter away. Mulching will promote the growth of the tree and drastically reduce its water and maintenance needs.
>> If you can't manage the watering, pay the gardener or a local help a small sum to water the tree.
