I will plant an apple tree tomorrow, although I already know that it may be too late.

Experts advise that this should be done by March at the latest, otherwise the tree will not grow.

Autumn is the best time to plant an apple tree.

Then the rose plant can take root enough to be well cared for in summer.

Now is the highest time.

Andrew Frey

Freelance author in the science section of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper.

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To be honest, I don't like the apple tree or the symbolism of this planting campaign.

I don't mean the custom of planting an apple tree for every child, that has charm, although the scrawny skeletons that my hometown gives away as so-called birth trees embody anything but growth and future.

No, I mean the inner meaning of Luther, the confidence in the face of the end of the world, even if he probably never said this saying.

It sounds too much like defeatism to me.

Peace, joy, linden tree

If you really want to exude confidence in the crisis, you should be active in the garden in a different way.

For example, you could plant a linden tree, which is a symbol of justice, love, peace and home, say forest botanists at the University of Göttingen.

A quote from Martin Luther, which probably really comes from him: "The linden tree is our tree of peace and joy." But with all love for the peacemaker, not everyone has space for such a monument in the grid square.

Fortunately, there are space-saving alternatives, such as ivy, a heart-shaped and often underestimated garden dweller, but I don't like it enough.

Or venerable laurel, which smells good but is almost too bulky.

In addition, he is already associated with fame, victory and strength, that will have to do.

If you want to set a sign of solidarity with Ukraine in your garden, you should rather plant blue and yellow flowers.

The flag provides the model, with an azure sky over a golden cornfield like a painting by Mark Rothko, indeed origin and meaning are unclear.

However, there is a problem with this solidarity: flowers with blue blossoms are rare because the production of such a dye is expensive.

Botanists from the University of Bayreuth found out last year in the journal "Frontiers in Plant Science

"

that these pigments are only produced by plants that have to assert themselves against others in tough competition for pollinators.

The blue almost magically attracts pollinators, giving plants with blue flowers an advantage in a flower meadow.

Blue flowers as an evolutionary advantage

In my opinion , forget-me-nots (

Myosotis spec.

) are an excellent sign of solidarity .

Depending on the species, the blue flowers with yellow eyes begin to bloom in April and are an ornament for every garden, even in politically quiet times.

Preferably in sunny spots, they are easy to care for anyway.

Irises also come in bright blue-yellow, and their perennials like it sunny too.

If all this is too symbolic for you: humping in the garden is also recommended when you are away from a sea of ​​blue and yellow flowers: it clears the beet and distracts from world events.

Here's a warning for all the overzealous: In the coming week, cold continental air will flow into Germany, well, it's coming pretty much directly from Russia.

All frost-sensitive plants should remain indoors, as it gets bitterly cold at night.

But this phase will also come to an end.

Life cannot be suppressed.