When we booked our Tree Man do some heavy duty garden work, and plant a New Zealand native palm. It was not meant to be what it has become, a memorial for Dash Kitten.
Our Tree Man rang up yesterday and requested that we bring forward our work as the weather anticipated on our previously scheduled date was expected to be ‘severe’. Today’s weather is down to deteriorate to storm force winds and rain, so we are glad we did.
Placing the Nikau Palm
As a result, the Tree Man visited today and the first thing we did was discuss the siting of our Nikau Palm
He advised semi shade and sheltered, and, the ideal situation turned out to be close to where Dash was found by our neighbour, which seems fitting. The palm is a New Zealand native, just like Dash Kitten. It is about 10 years old at the moment and about 8 feet/2.5 metres tall (about 6ft/1.80 mtrs when planted!)
Our memorial palm will be in excellent native company, both the Kowhai and the Flax nearby are relished by New Zealand native bird the Tui, (the link also lets you listen to Tui song). We are giving local wild birds a helping hand as both provide tasty seasonal nectar. The tree itself took a considerable mount of care and skill to plant, as you may be able to see.
Miranda watches from inside
The tree man first put 2 year slow release fertiliser tablets into a ‘bell’ shaped hole – to allow the roots more room to spread out as it grows – then quality compost around the base. The palm was then placed in the hole, braced securely with stakes and hessian ties, with more compost on top.
The result is a sturdy planting that will cope with most weather. We were also advised not to water the tree in as chlorine in the water supply would burn the sensitive roots – but to allow the coming storm rains to do the work for us.
The Nikau Palm in position
Our beautiful Palm is now in place, our Tree Man has done a skilled job and we have a lasting tribute to our boy. Thank you to Wayne of Pencarrow Tree Services for his skilled help.
