Trees & plants

Trees & plants: Plants should be planted during auspicious constellations. It is ideal to plant during the bright half, i.e., close to full moon. Saplings should first be planted in clay pots and only later placed in the ground. This enables them to grow better.

It is always good to grow a Tulasi plant on one’s property. Tulasi should be located on the north, northeast, or east sides of the house, or in front of the house. Trees should not be planted directly in front of the house’s main entrance. There should be an even number of trees on one’s property, not an odd number. Trees should be planted on the south or west sides of the house. Ideally, they should be planted on both these sides rather than on only one side. It is not good to plant a tall tree on the north, northeast, or east sides of a building.

Smaller trees may be planted on the east or north sides, but no trees should be planted in the northeast corner. Tall trees should not be too close to a building as they block the sunlight. A tree’s shadow should not fall on the house. Large trees should not be located too near the house as their roots can damage the foundation and compound wall. Also, the roots of large trees absorb sunlight quickly, meaning these positive rays will not be received by the building. Do not allow tree branches to touch the house.

Stone sculptures and rock gardens should be located on the southwest side of the house because they are heavy.

Thorny plants should not be planted near the house. Cactus should not be planted at all. Thorny plants other than roses have a negative energy. Ideally all thorny plants should be pulled up and destroyed.

A list of good trees to plant: coconut, neem, betal, sandalwood, lemon, pineapple, bilva, almond, jackfruit, pomegranate, mango, amla, and katha.

Banyan and Pipal (Aswatha) are sacred trees; they should usually only be planted near a temple or at a sacred place.

Creepers or other plants should not be grown by using the building or compound wall as support. Creepers should only be grown in a garden, and they should have their own independent supports.

If a tree must be removed because it is inauspicious or for other reasons, it should be removed in the months of Magh or Bhadrapada. The day before cutting the tree, worship it and express regret that it must be removed from its rooting. Promise to plant a new tree in its place. Do so within three months. When cutting the tree, it should fall east or north, not south or west.