The beginners’ guide to seriously fast tree-growing - and easing your carbon conscience.

With all this crazy talk of levelling Mabira Forest for sugar cane, you might feel you need to take some positive action. Why not start at home? You may already have a tree planting habit? Or fancy giving it a go. Well, you’re in the right place to have a try. Uganda has some of the best growing conditions in the world to give you money-back guaranteed ‘silvicultural’ satisfaction. The sun beats down incessantly and the rain falls for two good seasons a year. Even if you’re here for just 1 year – plant two or three because it’s truly rewarding watching them grow even in that short time, and offsets at least some of the jet fuel you burned to get here.

3 years ago, I started from scratch – literally an expanse of mud left behind by the builders, so had to make an extra effort, but in the green race to the sky, my little Eden has overtaken many others’ that I once admired with envy.A mixed line of “Nsambya” and “Nandi Flame” trees (both native) that were only 20cm tall when I planted them about 2 years ago, are taller than the rooftop of the two-storey house they were planted to screen. They are already taller than any of the trees I planted at home back in Blightey 15 years ago. Astounding! A Terminalia cattapa I planted at the same time as a branchless stem with only about 5 leaves on top, now sports branches 10 metres in diameter – wider than my house – providing a wonderful natural shade under which we lap up that ‘lazing on the lawn on a Sunday afternoon’ feeling without getting totally fried. My neighbour and tenant is already asking me to prune back the Potato Trees I planted to screen the view over the neighbours’ yard because they have blocked her entire skyline.

So what’s the secret to growing seriously fast trees? If you don’t live in a valley bottom such as Bugolobi with naturally deep fertile soils, then dig a BIG hole, ideally at least 2ft (60cm) wide in both directions by 2ft deep – easier said than done in my garden which is almost solid murram ‘rock’. Buy one big load of good quality black soil, and another of manure (Peter can advise – contacts below). 1 big hole takes about 0.25 cubic metres (about half a tonne) of soil and manure mixed. So a 4 tonne truckload of each will be enough for about 16 big holes. Anything left over can be chucked on a weary looking flowerbed with wonderful results. Don’t mess about with pick-up trucks or fertiliser sacks unless you really are only planting 1 or 2 trees. Even in Bugolobi – add some manure to the local soil. Ideally plant just before the rainy season, or prepare for a big water bill. For the first year, every time it doesn’t rain for a couple of days, give them a bucket of water. All the above combined is a truly worthwhile investment – a gardeners’ equivalent of putting a supercharger on an already fast car… Or a party animal’s version of doing a tequila slammer with champagne as the mixer… If you haven’t already, then try it – impressively rapid results!

In Uganda, you could of course get somebody else to do all of the above for you for a ‘modest sum’, but nothing beats the satisfaction of digging at least some of the holes yourself, getting down on your knees to put the tree into place, shovelling soil and muck back in, and getting some dirt under the nails to show off at JKs. Then you can watch ‘em grow like stink, and take the credit at your next Braai. When you point and say “I planted them!”, your wife won’t say “no dear, mzee the gardener did!” Your waistline will be all the better for it too. To share the sense of achievement, and ease the family’s collective carbon conscience, make sure everybody plants at least one each (lads – put your beer down for a second and go and help dig the hole for the wife and kids, please!).

How many? Ugandan trees get big, fast. But remember, you can always plant more than you finally need and ‘thin’ some out later. It probably won’t be your problem if you’re not here for so long, so aim for 20+ for visible impact.

Where to plant? Along boundaries with neighbours (some ideas provided below – see box). Anywhere there’s some space. Along the roadside verges outside your compound – I planted about 20 trees of mixed leguminous species – mainly thorny native Acacias mixed with some exotic ornamentals along my fence line that have transformed the street.

So what to plant? You’re spoiled for choice. But as a general rule, anything leguminous (i.e. that has bean pods on it) is also nitrogen fixing so will do well on less good soils. As a big bonus they almost all have beautiful form, foliage and flowers. Try the following native legumes – Albizia zygia (White Nongo), Albizia grandibracteata, Piptaneniastrum africanum (Mpererwe), any of the Acacias, or some exotics – Delonix regia (“Flambouyant”) are spectacular. The Bauhinia genus (known as Camel’s Foot trees because the leaf has that shape) includes many small flowering trees and shrubs. While they can be beautiful, Jacaranda doesn’t do so well here – dropping branches and quickly looking like an amputee. Start collecting seeds from other gardens – even more satisfying but adds a few months.

Markhamia lutea – Local name “Nsambya”. One of the fastest growing trees native to Uganda. It grows tall and thin with striking yellow flowers for much of the year, and planted all over the country by farmers along field margins. Great for instant screen from an eyesore building / nosey neighbour next door, or as a windbreak and shade.

Spathodea campanulata - “Nandi Flame” – a.k.a. African Tulip Tree. A close relative of Nsambya, and very similar in growth form, but with wonderful big red flowers. Mix in with some Nsambya for more colour in a border. Terminalia cattapa – one of the family of so-called ‘umbrella trees’. It is found naturally all over the tropics on sea shores as it’s seed survives long ocean journeys, but grown ornamentally for its shade with large leaves (easy to pick up daily) that turn a lovely deep red before they fall off. Solanum macranthum – the Potato Tree isn’t very long lived, but grow spectacularly fast, and has big thorny leaves and great purple and yellow ‘potato’ flowers. In this issue we’ve mentioned some easy ‘starter-pack’ tree species that will give rapid satisfaction. We’ll feature a few different trees over the next few issues, medicinals, ones that attract birds, or repel the mozzies,

but if you’re seriously keen and can’t wait for that, go and buy a book called “Trees and Shrubs of East Africa” from Aristoc, or Banana Boat. Or go and request an hour’s crash course with Peter. Start digging now - Lads.

Peter – who runs the ‘KCC’ Nursery (0772 660028), the other side of the Bugolobi road, almost opposite Sadolin Paint factory, on your right as you head from town towards the level crossing. Or any other respectable nursery. Call him and go and select your trees, order soil, manure and other gardening necessities. Request good quality black soil, and manure that is well rotted and preferably without the rubbish mixed in - though that seems to be an inevitable part of the deal. Make sure he also teaches you some of the names. Ask to see a big version of what you are looking for, but choose healthy looking small ones that haven’t become pot bound (roots all curled up at the bottom of the bag) or grown into the ground below (as you will break the tap root as you move it and then it will wilt and / or die).

James Acworth (green.solutions.uganda - at - gmail.com).