Originally from China, Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) or Maidenhair tree is the only tree in the family of Ginkgoaceae. It is also called the Silver Apricot Tree. It has deciduous foliage. Its leaves have an exceptional shape not found in any other tree of any species. Devoid of a central vein and composed of two lobes whose shape evokes palms, the bright green leaves of Ginkgo biloba take on the color of gold in autumn. There is no doubt that it does not lack ornamental assets. Let’s see how to plant and care for this exceptional tree that can live for more than a thousand years without great demands.
Planter un Ginkgo biloba
Spring is ideal for planting a Gingko provided that the risk of frost has passed. The Maidenhair Tree can also be planted in October but not later because it must have time to take root well before the onset of winter.
The method of planting a Ginkgo biloba in the ground is the following.
- Dig a hole about 2.5 times larger than the root ball.
- Work the extracted soil to loosen it then add organic manure and sand if it is really very compact.
- Also work the bottom of the planting hole well so that it is loose.
- Rehydrate the root ball by immersing the container in a large basin of water for about 2 hours.
- Remove the root ball from the container and position the tree in the center of the hole.
- Fill with the soil/manure (sand) mixture.
- Tamp the surface of the earth.
- Water copiously.
After this first watering, it is useful to apply a mulch leaves or grass clippings to keep the soil cool. Nothing prevents you from planting ground cover plants at the foot of this marvelous tree.
It is necessary to reserve sufficient space for it because the Ginkgo biloba can reach a wingspan of 20 meters. As it is not desirable to move it once it is in place, you might as well anticipate.
Of course, today we find cultivars less bulkyor even dwarf varieties that can be grown in pots as is the case, for example, with Ginkgo biloba Mariken not exceeding 2 meters in height against 30 to 40 meters for the type species. It may also be wise, if you have a very small garden, to opt, for example, for a Ginkgo fastigiéthat is to say whose growth is mainly in height but is limited in width.
It is finally possible to cultivate a Gingko in a jarbut this requires choosing a suitable cultivar such as Ginkgo biloba ‘Troll’. We take care to install it in a rich and light mixture, consisting of 35% garden soil, 35% potting soil and 30% sand. We obviously use a container of good size, imperatively fully drilled to ensure perfect drainage, place a good layer of drainage such as coarse gravel or clay pebbles at the bottom of the pot, on which part of the planting mixture is placed.
Here again we rehydrate the root ball for a good 2 hours before placing it in the tank. Then simply place the shrub in the center of the pot, fill in with the substrate prepared beforehand, tamp down lightly and water generously. All that remains is to ask pebbles on the surface and to install the Ginkgo biloba in pot on the terrace where it will bring a note that could not be more refined.
Cultivars and Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba likes sunny to lightly shaded exposures. The ideal is to install it where it can be protected from direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. It supports all climates and is hardy enough to resist down to -30°C.
His preference is for cool soils most well drained, clay-siliceous et slightly acidic but it perfectly tolerates a moderately calcareous soil. It is advisable to lighten heavy soil with sand. Adding compost at the time of planting is possible if the garden soil is particularly poor. Note however that this tree supports any type of soil, from the richest to the least fertile, and could even be satisfied with a pile of stones… Its only requirement is to never have your foot bathed in water.
Entertain a Ginkgo biloba
This sumptuous tree is very easy to grow and has very few requirements.
Water
It is especially during its first years that a Gingko needs regular watering, especially in the event of drought or very high temperatures. Nevertheless, however, we keep a light hand because it absolutely does not support stagnant water. The goal is just to allow the soil to stay cool. It should therefore never be soggy. The soil can dry out a little between two waterings.
Cut
As far as possible, we do not prune a Ginkgo biloba.
Pests and diseases
Le Ginkgo biloba resist everythingwhether to parasites and pests as well as to diseases.
on phenomenal resistance allowed it to resist the many natural transformations that our planet has undergone as well as the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It still presents today the morphological characteristics of species extinct for a long time and having existed 200 million years ago. This is why the Ginkgo biloba species is said panchronic. In a colorful way, it is sometimes nicknamed the fossil tree…