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What to do with existing trees when establishing a permaculture garden

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What to do with existing trees when establishing a permaculture garden

Greetings!

I have recently moved into a home with a garden after many years of apartment jumping.

The garden is a dream for me!I now have a lawn space bordered with trees, shrubs and bushes.

I want to introduce fruit species along the border. However, that space is already taken up.

The existing trees as shown, are established and cast a lot of shade on the area.

1) What is the impact of removing the trees? On the soil specifically… 2) I am not too keen on cutting them down, would thinning them out be an option to allow more sunlight? If I plant fruit species in between existing trees – will there be too much nutrient competition? Will the fruit trees thrive with dappled sunlight?

I am in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Any other comments or tips are appreciated.

Thank you!

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March Treasures

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March Treasures

Camellia ‘Magnoliaflora’ and Pieris ‘Valley Rose’


Buds are budding, flowers are emerging, and the garden is getting greener. Excitement builds! It seems like it is all happening too soon and that is probably the case since the winter has been so mild. There are also mutterings about a “false spring” which is certainly understandable. It is not uncommon here to get a big snow in April. It has happened many times since we’ve lived here. 

Proceed with caution…
I would not dream of putting any delicate plants out yet so they will remain in the garage. However, there is a flurry of activities that needs to be done. Rose pruning, cutting back perennials and grasses, transplanting, etc. etc. 
It is all worth it – the garden rewards –
Crocus

Daffodils
Anenome

Hellebore

Camellia ‘Donation’

Euphorbia wulfenii

Tree Heath (Erica arborea)

Hebe ‘Pretty in Pink’

Pieris ‘Valley Rose’

Pieris ‘Passion Frost’

And last, but certainly not least, is the Azara which is just spectacular this year. I’ve never seen so many blooms. The garden is filled with the fragrance, which to me, smells like cigars. Some describe it as vanilla or a cake baking in the oven. However you describe it, it is divine.

Azara microphylla

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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Want to preserve biodiversity? Go big

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Want to preserve biodiversity? Go big

Large, undisturbed forests are better for harboring biodiversity than fragmented landscapes, according to recent research. Ecologists agree that habitat loss and the fragmentation of forests reduces biodiversity in the remaining fragments. But ecologists don’t agree whether it’s better to focus on preserving many smaller, fragmented tracts of land or larger, continuous landscapes. The study comes to a clear conclusion.

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