To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [permaculture] nitrogen-fixing trees in temperate climes
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 22:38:14 -0500
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@yahoo.com>
To: <permaculture@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.