[permaculture] nitrogen-fixing trees in temperate climes
Lisa Rollens
rollens at fidnet.com
Fri Aug 8 23:38:14 EDT 2008
Thank you, Rain, for your reply. It was as I expected. I just couldn't see
any reason for N2 fixing trees not fixing nitrogen in temperate climates.
I, too, like black locust trees and have planted 75-100 each year for the
past several years. This has been on a hillside, with the plan to use them
for coppicing for firewood. However, I have been thinking of planting them
among my young orchard trees thinking that maybe the locusts will help keep
frost damage from being so bad. Maybe I should use elaeagnus (autumn olive)
instead??? The fruit trees are mostly standard size, so maybe taller black
locust would protect them better? I don't know, am just thinking out loud.
Well, ok, in type! Any feelings?
I wasn't familiar with the "silk tree" that you mentioned, and so looked it
up. Mimosa!! Around here mimosas are VERY invasive! As a matter of fact,
I have them coming up all over from the stick mulch I use. I will read more
about them and see if they might be useful, too. Thanks for the idea!
Lisa, also big on planting trees!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rain Tenaqiya" <raincascadia at yahoo.com>
To: <permaculture at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 10:00 PM
Subject: [permaculture] nitrogen-fixing trees in temperate climes
Your friend is full of nitrogen. Various trees are notorious for the effect
of their nitrogen-fixing symbionts. Red alder repair clearcuts in Cascadia.
Elaeagnus species reportedly increase nearby fruit tree output by 10%. Just
pull up any acacias and smell all the ammonia coming off the roots.
Black locusts are my friends. I also love silk trees (Albizia julibrissins).
These trees cast light shade that actually increase the productivity of most
food plants in hot climates.
I wish I could get ahold of some Casuarina suitable for California. These
are planted widely in Hawai'i, New Guinea, and their native Australia, but
for some reason are not common, here.
Plant some trees today!
Rain
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