What are the planting methods for tree of heaven seeds?
The tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a deciduous tree in the genus Ailanthus of the family Simaroubaceae. It is an excellent ornamental tree and shade tree, and is also a tree species used for soil and water conservation and soil improvement in saline-alkali land. It can be propagated by sowing seeds, so how do you plant tree of heaven seeds?
1. How to plant tree of heaven seeds?
1. Soil
The tree of heaven has strong adaptability. Except for clay, it can grow normally in all kinds of soil and in neutral, acidic and alkaline soils, but deep, fertile and moist sandy soil is preferable. Before sowing, plow the soil deeply and apply sufficient base fertilizer.
2. Sowing
Tree of heaven seeds are generally sown from early March to late April. Soaking the seeds in warm water before sowing is better and can advance germination by 5-6 days. Soak the tree of heaven seeds in 40°C warm water for a day and a night, then sow in drills with a row spacing of 25-40 cm. After sowing, cover with 1-1.5 cm of soil and wait for germination.
2. What is the difference between the tree of heaven and the Chinese mahogany (Toona sinensis)?
1. Different families and genera
The tree of heaven is a deciduous tree in the genus Ailanthus of the family Simaroubaceae, with smooth bark that has straight striations, gray to grayish-black. The Chinese mahogany (Toona sinensis) is a deciduous tree in the genus Toona of the family Meliaceae, with rough, dark brown bark.
2. Different leaves
The leaves of the tree of heaven are odd-pinnately compound, ovate-lanceolate in shape, with 1 or 2 coarse teeth on each side, dark green on the upper surface, grayish-green on the underside, and the leaves have a foul odor. The leaves of the Chinese mahogany are even-pinnately compound, ovate-lanceolate or ovate-oblong in shape, with entire margins or sparse small teeth, hairless on both sides, without spots, often powdery green on the underside, and the leaves have a fairly strong fragrance.
3. Different flowers and fruits
The flowers of the tree of heaven are pale green; the samaras are oblong; the seeds are located in the middle of the wing and are oblate. The flowers of the Chinese mahogany are white; the capsules are narrowly elliptical, dark brown, with small pale lenticels; the seeds are usually blunt at the base, with a membranous long wing at the upper end and no wing at the lower end.