Thanks for this informative video. I wish the KZN roads departments would watch it. On the lower South Coast, virtually all of the bridges have either Ficus natalensis or F lutea, or both, growing on them, the seed obviously having germinated in crevices and the 'stangler' roots spreading far and wide over a period of twenty years and more, seriously undermining the structure. The most attention the larges one has had is a pruning! - which shows little sign of intelligence on the part of those in charge of maintenance. On a more positive side, among a number of others I have a magnificent 10m+-tall F trichopoda in my garden (about 1.5h) in Umtentweni which after about twenty-five years is looking very 'banyan-like' with its stilt roots propping up branches. F abutifolia has also done well, planted on a rocky outcrop. These are stunning trees for the tropical look if one has the space away from structures and pipes. Their trunks and roots add the ambience of a tropical jungle.
Thanks for the comment Steven...yes we have the same issue here in Durban and I've noticed it right up and down the coast. Its very kind of the roads department to so lovingly prune and care for the figs growing in their bridges :-P I envy you - it must be nice having space for a trichopoda - they have such an amazing tropical coastal forest look to them...you've got to love them...even if only for the birds that they attract.
@@growinggardeners Perhaps the bridge department is moving over to the Indian-style bridges. Maybe we missed the point! I hope we'll meet someday. Can't find contact info.
@@stevenvanstadenvanstaden4317 Ha ha! Yes possibly...I never thought of that! Oh, I'll check why my contact details aren't there...you can give me a shout next time you're in Durban?
Thanks for this informative video. I wish the KZN roads departments would watch it. On the lower South Coast, virtually all of the bridges have either Ficus natalensis or F lutea, or both, growing on them, the seed obviously having germinated in crevices and the 'stangler' roots spreading far and wide over a period of twenty years and more, seriously undermining the structure. The most attention the larges one has had is a pruning! - which shows little sign of intelligence on the part of those in charge of maintenance.
On a more positive side, among a number of others I have a magnificent 10m+-tall F trichopoda in my garden (about 1.5h) in Umtentweni which after about twenty-five years is looking very 'banyan-like' with its stilt roots propping up branches. F abutifolia has also done well, planted on a rocky outcrop. These are stunning trees for the tropical look if one has the space away from structures and pipes. Their trunks and roots add the ambience of a tropical jungle.
Thanks for the comment Steven...yes we have the same issue here in Durban and I've noticed it right up and down the coast. Its very kind of the roads department to so lovingly prune and care for the figs growing in their bridges :-P
I envy you - it must be nice having space for a trichopoda - they have such an amazing tropical coastal forest look to them...you've got to love them...even if only for the birds that they attract.
@@growinggardeners Perhaps the bridge department is moving over to the Indian-style bridges. Maybe we missed the point! I hope we'll meet someday. Can't find contact info.
@@stevenvanstadenvanstaden4317 Ha ha! Yes possibly...I never thought of that! Oh, I'll check why my contact details aren't there...you can give me a shout next time you're in Durban?