Forest litter refers to the forest soil surface and includes fallen leaves, twigs, branches, fruits and other dead parts of the plants and trees that have accumulated over the years and are usually in different stages of the process of decomposing. This litter is highly nutrient-rich matter for the trees and continues to provide energy to both plants and trees.

While forest litter is the norm in a natural habitat, the case is quite different when it comes to growing trees at home. Not everyone is blessed with a vast lawn and may only have access to a few feet of uncovered land for growing a tree. Even if there is substantial space available at home, the nuisance and unwanted litter from a tree can drive the passion out.

There are many people who have recently adopted gardening as a hobby. A few would grow saplings and small plants to see them grow into huge trees over the years while trying to inculcate this habit among their children as well. They may plant it within the house boundary wall, near the main entrance, on the surrounding pavements or in the backyard. While many do it to add green colour to their surroundings, some grow trees for the shade they provide. Similarly, many like harvesting truckloads of seasonal fruit.

However, in residential settings, trees can be a cause of concern, which is why it’s critical to plant them at strategically selected spots and take the following factors into consideration.

Gardening enthusiasts need to take several things into consideration before planting a tree at home

One of the most rewarding elements for anyone planting trees is reaping a harvest. But it can be a nuisance when children start throwing stones at an unripe mango or a handful of jambolan (locally known as jamun) or guava.

The over-ripened fruit that falls from the tree not only begins to go bad but also attracts insects. If not cleaned properly, the area may even start producing a bad odour. The fallen fruit can also attract rats, rodents, flies and insects. This looks especially distasteful if the tree is planted at the house entrance, which is why daily cleaning around the tree is important, especially during the flowering and fruiting seasons. To make it viable for gardening, all this litter can be collected to make healthy fertiliser for other plants.

Similarly, all round the year and especially during autumn, the dried leaves, branches, twigs and flowers may continue to fall. All these need to be removed to clear the walking space below the tree. Options for preparing the leaf compost and the brown part of the compost can come in handy when dealing with this litter.

The dried leaves of some trees, however, like palms, dates and coconuts, can be more burdensome due to their size. If planted near an electric or telephone pole, with wires in their way, a falling leaf may hang from it or even destroy the wire, making it a very dangerous proposition. Sometimes, it may even damage the windshield of any vehicle parked below.

Household help sometimes throws garbage bags around such trees instead of going all the way to the community garbage disposal point. This not only creates more mess but also creates foul odours and increases the chances of unwanted diseases. Many cats and dogs may select the base of the trees as spots to urinate on or seek shelter in. Stray cats and dogs may even give birth to their young ones at such locations.

Regardless of whether it is parked under a tree or not, any vehicle’s windshield is somehow one of the most favourite places for any bird to deposit their droppings. Trees attract birds, and they may set up their nests on them too. Along with the bird droppings, sometimes, unfortunately, their eggs may also slip from their nests, especially during windy or rainy seasons.

You may find many old trees in older parts of Karachi with lots of birds sitting on their branches. For many feet around the stem, the floor or road is filled with their droppings. These can be used to prepare fertiliser for your plants.

Finally, one of the most important issues for residents of any metropolitan society is the presence of underground water and sewerage pipelines. The roots of those trees that grow straight below may damage such pipelines. Similarly, the roots of those trees that spread horizontally rather than vertically can damage the walls if planted near the boundary walls, or they may chip off the floor or even roads, if there is not much space for their roots to spread.

All these issues must be kept in mind when planting a tree in the first place. For all others who have already grown a tree, the tree litter can all be used for different gardening purposes. Cleanliness, especially when growing a tree in a society, remains fundamental.

Please send your queries and emails to doctree101@hotmail.com. The writer is a physician and a host for the YouTube channel ‘DocTree Gardening’ promoting organic kitchen gardening

Published in Dawn, EOS, August 27th, 2023