Trees that will turn your garden into paradise

When a lawn is lush with green foliage, and dotted with beautiful flowers, deciding on the type of trees to plant on the garden should not be a hard task.

There are many trees in the market that will turn your yard into a small paradise. However, what type to grow and how you plant it will determine if it achieves the desired aesthetic look, bringing flair into your garden.  

“Before you select the trees, you need to understand the soil profile, rooting behaviour of each plant and the climate of the area where you want to plant them,” said Michael Kabiah of Mika Landscapers.

Mr Kabiah says for the flowering trees, the colour of the flowers should guide you on where you can plant them to avoid the colours clashing with the exterior of the house.

Also mind your neighbour when planting any tree. For instance, you should not plant any tree close to your neighbour’s house. The roots of the trees can spread to their house, causing cracks in walls and floors. Trees whose branches grow into your neighbour’s garden can also restrict flow of light.

Mr Kabiah, who has been a landscaper for over five years, highlights some of the trees available in the market that can transform your small garden into a beautiful haven of tranquillity.

Ponciana

This is a tropical tree ideal in Kenyan landscapes. It is colourful and known to tolerate a range of well-draining soil including alkaline and acidic. Planted on a garden, the tree adds a bright red colour and beauty to a garden.

Palm trees

There are a variety of palm trees available in the market, but their purpose varies from one species to another. The Chinese fan palm is perfect in a garden while Golden Cane or Coco Plumosa palm are best suitable for indoors. Chinese fan palm leaves droop down in a fountain like way. They are easily adaptable to varied climates with well-drained soil and can endure hot weather conditions and drought.

The Golden Cane palm, also known as the butterfly palm, has yellow stems and green leaflets and can grow to a height of about four meters and when planted indoors it adds a tropical effect to a home.

Other types of palm trees include thika, royal, traveller, fish tail golden palm, red bottle, pygmy date, cycas revoluta and Mexican fan. All these species add a topical feeling in a garden. 

Jacaranda

It is one of the most beautiful trees in the world. The tree is loved for its beauty, especially during blooming, when the blue purple flowers sprout out forming a stunning sight. It can grow up to 15 metres tall and wide, creating a good shade during hot season.

It thrives in tropical, warm temperature and in well drained fertile soil. However, it should be planted away from buildings because it grows wide and its roots spread extensively and deeply.

Bonsai family

Bonsai is an art of reproducing trees in a miniature form. It is an art that was practised by the Japanese. From a pot, the trees are trained to take shape.

Normally, it requires professionals to train them into various attractive shapes, to trim and pinch to keep them small. They include magnolia bonsai, ficus retusa, jade tree bonsai, fushia bonsai and bougainvillea bonsai amongst others. While some are known to form thick shrub, others are known for beautiful flowers.

To keep the plant healthy and evergreen the soil is kept moist because the tree cannot withstand drought.

Australian flame tree

It is grown in warm habitats. It is planted in many homes because of its unique beautiful nature. It has beautiful orange-red-bell-shaped flowers that adorn your garden. It tolerates wind, drought and heat and demands little gardening attention. Because it spreads widely, it offers a good shade.

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