fast growing trees - Austree

The Austree, or "tree from Australia", is a hybrid willow botanically known as Salix matsudana x alba. The austree, also known as the Aussie tree
s ideal as one of the fast growing trees, to create a screening hedge, as it develops at the rate of 6-10 ft per annum, quickly developing to a wonderful screening hedge. Although not an evergreen, the Aussie tree does put on thick foliage and branching. While most dense in the growing season, you still can enjoy privacy and wind blockage in the dead of winter

As the Austree, is disease resistant and drought resistant (once established) and is also tolerant of both hot and cold climates, the Aussie tree, is found as far North as Canada and South into Florida.

When planting the young tree, dig a hole approximately 18 inches in diameter and 18 inches deep. Gently pack the soil firmly around the roots as you fill the hole to prevent air pockets. When the hole is about 2/3 full, water slowly and thoroughly. Allow it to completely drain before adding any more dirt to the hole. This not only waters your tree but also helps eliminate any air pockets. Plant each, whip like young Aussie tree approximately three to five feet apart. By the end of the first growing season, you will have a thick green screening hedge beginning to take shape.

The branches of the Austree are very flexible and not brittle like other willows so less prone to breaking breaking in high winds or ice, neither do they spread by suckers or seed.







These before and after pictures, show the Aussie tree covered with iceand bent over,

a few days later, the aussie tree can be seen standing
tall once again.

The austree is an amazingly versatile tree that can be planted any time of year. You’ll enjoy watching how quickly it grows.

For a great source for aussie trees see the austree available from fast growing trees.

tree leaf identification glossary

One aspect of tree leaf identification, I thought it may be good to take a look at, would be the terms in use.

ALTERNATE

leaves that are staggered, not placed directly across from each other on the twig.

BLADE

the flat part of a leaf or leaflet, characteristic of broadleaf trees.

BRACT

a modified leaf that bears a flower.

BROADLEAF

a tree with leaves that are flat and thin, and generally shed annually.

BUD SCAR

the marks remaining after bud scales drop in spring.

CAMBIUM

A single layer of cells in the tree’s trunk that produces the new wood and bark

COMPOUND LEAF

a leaf with more than one blade. All blades are attached to a single leaf stem. Where the leaf stem attaches to the twig there is a bud.

CONIFER

a cone-bearing tree.

CROWN

Branches, twigs, buds, leaves, flowers and fruit.

DECIDUOUS

shedding all leaves annually.

ENTIRE

a leaf margin with smooth, untoothed edges.

EVERGREEN

trees with needles or leaves that remain alive and on the tree through the winter and into the next growing season.

FASCICLE

A cluster of conifer leaves

FRUIT

The seed-bearing part of a tree

HABITAT

The place where a plant usually grows, e.g., a rocky, moist, well-drained, etc..

HARDWOOD

Term used to describe all broadleaved trees. These tree species are deciduous, retaining their leaves only one growing season. Despite the term, some "hardwoods" such as the aspens, have wood that is relatively soft.

HEARTWOOD

The area next to the pith, which is composed of deal cells and serves as support

INNER BARK (PHLOEM)

Conducts usable food from the leaves to the cambium to nourish it or to storage areas in the wood.

LEAF

Stalk and blade of hardwoods: needles and scales of conifers.

LEAF SCAR

the mark left on the twig where the leaf was previously attached.

LEAFLET

Smaller leaf units or leaflets which together form a compound leaf.

LOBES

projections that shape a leaf.

MARGIN

the edge of a leaf.

MEDULLARY RAYS

These rays radiate out from the center of the tree, and serve in lateral conduction and as food storage areas. They are most visible in a cross-sectional view of the tree trunk.

MIDRIB

the primary rib or central vein of a leaf.

OPPOSITE

2 or 3 leaves that are directly across from each other on the same twig.

OUTER BARK

The area of the tree trunk composed of dead cells. It insulates and protects inner tissues from disease infections and drying.

PALMATE

blades or lobes or veins of the leaf arranged like fingers on the palm of a hand.

PERSISTENT

deciduous leaf blades that remain on the tree for more than one year.

PETIOLE

the leafstalk that connects the blade(s) to the twig.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

This is the process that occurs in the leaves. From energy produced by sunlight, the leaves combine carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil to produce carbohydrates. Oxygen is released in the process. Carbohydrates plus fats and proteins are the plant foods necessary for growth and respiration of the tree.

PINNATE

blades or lobes or veins of the leaf arranged like the vanes of a feather.

PISTILLATE

The part of the leaf that contains female portions of flowers, or the pistils

PITH

The central, soft part of the stem.

ROOTS

Root hairs absorb water and mineral salts from the soil. Larger roots anchor the tree and store nitrogen and carbohydrates.

SAMARA

winged fruit.

SAPWOOD

The area on the outer side of the trunk, which contains the sap conducting tubes. Sapwood is usually lighter in color, but it darkens with age and becomes heartwood. Heartwood and sapwood together comprise the xylem.

SEED

That part of the fruit capable of germinating and producing a new plant.

SIMPLE LEAF

a single leaf blade with a bud at the base of the leaf stem.

SINUS

indentation between lobes on a leaf.

SOFTWOOD

Term used to describe all needle-leaved trees. These species are typically evergreen, retaining their leaves through two or more growing seasons. Larches, including tamarack, are exceptions, being deciduous "softwoods"

SPURS

stubby, often sharp twigs.

TEETH

notches on the outer edge of a leaf.

TREE

A woody plant, generally single-stemmed, that reaches a height of more 15 feet at maturity. A tree has three major parts: roots, trunk and the crown.

TRUNK

The main body of the tree.

The Encyclopedia of North American Trees is a great starter encyclopaedia covering 278 species of North American trees.

Thanks for taking time out to read the tree leaf identification blog

Evergreen trees for the garden

Rather than just looking at tree leaf identification on the blog, I thought it would be interesting to have a look at some evergreen trees for the garden.

Evergreens make an ideal tree for the garden, they are able to offer wind protection, screen noise, offer more privacy and because they don't loose their leaves, are able to offer this protection all year round.

To maximise the benefits of planting the evergreens, you will need a little preparation.

The strongest prevailing winds in the USA will be in the North Northwest of the garden and to provide effective wind protection should be planted in a U or L shape to be most effective and planted close to each other, the trees affect wind speed both in front of and behind the trees, (see below).

Evergreen trees, are also highly effective at reducing noise, be that from passing traffic, a shopping mall, or other noise sources. The most effective way to screen sound is to plant the trees in two to three rows directly obscuring the source of the noise. If noise is a real issue, then it may be worth considering building a small bank 3 to 4 feet high with trees planted both on top of it and down the side. This can effectively halve noise disturbance levels.

Evergreens also make a superb privacy hedge. To prepare, make a visual guide, by placing stakes a few feet apart as a guide, to make a closely packed hedge once the trees have grown

Planting of the evergreens is fairly easy. The hole needs to be slightly shallower and twice the diameter of the root system. Ensure the sides of the hole are penetrable by the roots, by scraping the edges. Set the tree in the hole and spread out the roots, the root-ball should be approximately an inch above the surrounding soil. Do ensure the tree remains vertical as you place back the soil. As you backfill ensure you apply water, this will help clear any air pockets. Once the soil has been replaced, water well and then add a 2 to three inch layer of mulch around the tree. The mulch both retains moisture and aids in slowing the growth of weeds and grass.

Follow the evergreen trees link for more information on fast growing trees and the best way to plant Evergreen Trees

If you have any comments on tree leaf identification, please feel free to comment

Tree leaf identification Kruger National Park Lower Sabie Camp

Perhaps not a place which immediately comes to mind when considering tree leaf identification, Kruger National Park, provides far more than just animals to explore.

In the Central plains, which is the richest animal viewing area in the Park, is also home to one of the best camps from which to explore the diversity of trees in the area.

Lower Sabie Camp, provides a wide range of animal, bird and trees to explore. Accommodation for 229 visitors in roofed accommodation and camping for an additional 168.

PUT CLICK HERE FOR UK TOUR AGENT




The Boabab is perhaps the most famous of the trees. An African legend tells that a giant child of the Gods once pulled the baobab out of the ground and then stuck it back upside down, which accounts for its root-like branches, it grows to about 25 metres in height with a lifespan ov over 4 000 years.




The Magic Guarri acts as an early warning beacon to other trees in times of impending drought. This slow-growing, dense, evergreen produces a pheromone when it becomes stressed. This triggers the release of tannin in the leaves of surrounding trees which makes them unpalatable, thereby saving the plants in the area, when the drought arrives.

A highly useful guide to trees of Southern Africa is Trees of Southern Africa

Please check back for more information about tree leaf identification. If you would like to comment please feel free to do so.

Tree leaf identification North west trees

I have decided to review a guide on tree leaf identification, which covers the North West region.

A fantastic book for a Christmas present

The book provides over 200 black and white illustrations and more than 50 descriptions of trees in the North West.

Stephen Arno, the author, is a forest ecologist with the US Forest Service and has written other fine books.

The book divides into two parts. The first section covering conifers the second section is about broad-leaf trees and not just the more common trees in the area.

The narrative provides good description and background of the growth, appearance, ecology and use.

A useful introduction offers information on diversity and the development of the trees, due to climactic and geological conditions.

The reader, is not left to wonder how to use the tree guide, as a helpful section is included to explain the use of the identifier.

The illustrations, are very well detailed, the illustrator, Ramona Hammerley is an expert artist, with credits in other reference books. She has successfully encapsulated the structure and detail in her drawings.

The book is well worthy of consideration as a tree identification guide.

Tree leaf identification Western Region

Tree leaf identification in the Western Region of North America is a fairly expansive subject area, with more than 300 species of trees to be found, some introduced from other continents but many native to the region.

The Digger Pine, is widely seen in California, often found at elevations of between 300 and 900 metres, in the dry foothill woodland communities of California's Central Valley.

The huge female cones, long flexible needles in bundles of 3, growing on a crooked, forking trunk, with branches that are not horizontal. The needles are dull gray green and droop noticeably.

Mature trees are usually between 40 and 50 feet tall, the tree bark is dark gray, thick, and broken into scaly ridges.

The Austrian Pine, brought to the USA in the late 1800's is widely spread across North America

Has evergreen needles, 4 to 6 inches long, flexible with two thick, dark green needles per fascicle. The tree reaches up to 100 feet tall with a very dense crown. The cones are ovoid, 2 to 3 inches long, yellow-brown.

The Russian Olive is another non-native species, having been introduced from Germany in the late 1800's.

In the West, Russian-olive occurs mainly in the Great Basin Desert region at 800-2000 feet elevation and is also abundant in riparian zones of the Great Plains, for example, the Platte River in Nebraska.

It is a small, usually thorny tree that can grow to 30 feet in height. Its stems, buds, and leaves have a dense covering of silvery to rusty scales. Leaves are egg or lance-shaped, smooth margined, and alternate along the stem. Highly aromatic, creamy yellow flowers appear in June and July and are later replaced by clusters of abundant silvery fruits.

Because Russian-olive is capable of fixing nitrogen in its roots, it can grow on bare, mineral substrates and dominate riparian vegetation where over story cottonwoods have died.

The Sitka Willow, by contrast, is a native tree, growing predominately in Western North America from Alaska to California and east to Montana.

The Sitka Willow is a 1-8m small tree with sparsely hairy and velvety twigs, alternate deciduous and tapering leaves with a green and sparsely silky upper side and a satiny and short-haired lower side. Found in stream-sides, thickets, lake shores and wetland margins and clearings at up to 400m elevation.
Publish Post
A very useful guide to tree and tree leaf identification in the Western region, is


National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Western Region (Audubon Society Field Guide)


Please feel free to post comments and suggestions to this blog on tree leaf identification

Tree leaf identification - Moss Rock Reserve Alabama

Improvements to the trails at Moss Rock Preserve, make tree leaf identification an easier prospect.

The wilderness within the preserve is only getting better as hardwoods age, grow taller and trails become permanently beaten into the forest floor. In addition to a fleshing out and expansion of trail, numerous improvements such as maps, signage, and nicely built wooden footbridges now grace the cool woods. A 0.2-mile section of the White Trail, which makes up the second half of the loop, now features a series of tree identification stations.

Moss Rock Preserve is set in 250 acre and abundant with trees and plants, rock outcroppings, streams, waterfalls, wildlife and other unique natural features. Currently Moss Rock Preserve is home to four rare species of plants and a rare variant of Little River Canyon Sandstone Glade - one of only 35 known occurrences of the bird around the world.

HOW TO GET THERE

From downtown Birmingham, take U.S. 31 south. Turn onto Patton Road South. Drive 1.5 miles and turn left onto Chapel Lane. Drive 0.5 miles and turn right on Al Seier Road. Drive 1.9 miles and turn right onto Sulphur Springs Road. Drive 0.5 miles and turn right into a gravel parking area on your right.

A great tree identification guide to take with you is here

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