Choosing a tree
Discussion
The OH and I are trying to design our first ever garden.
It's a small patch, SW facing, not overlooked (but can get windy).
How do we choose a tree? I quite like the look of some of the durk purpley japanese acer's, the OH likes fruit trees. Due to the size of the garden we don't want to get anything too big.
How do we decide what would grow happily in our soil/temp/wind conditions?
We know SFA about gardening.
It's a small patch, SW facing, not overlooked (but can get windy).
How do we choose a tree? I quite like the look of some of the durk purpley japanese acer's, the OH likes fruit trees. Due to the size of the garden we don't want to get anything too big.
How do we decide what would grow happily in our soil/temp/wind conditions?
We know SFA about gardening.
It's good to ask rather than guess and watch it die.
Important things are:
Soil - sandy/clay, alkaline/acid.
Insolation - posh word for how much sun does the site get?
Sheltered/exposed
Then consider if you want evergreen or deciduous (sheds leaves in autumn).
Acers are very pretty but expensive and generally smallish/slow-growing. Apple trees may need a pollinator if you want fruit; it depends on the variety.
I think your best bet is to go to a GOOD garden centre and tell then where you're at. Or if you want to do some homework first, the 'Notcutts Book of Plants' is virtually the bible.
Also remember that plants are not like furniture - you can't just bung them in and expect them to stay like that. If the plant is poorly chosen or neglected in the early years, it can easily die. If it thrives, you might have a giant on your hands!
By coincidence I bought a tree today - a Sumach (pronoucned shoo-mak) and now re-classified as Rhus: www.findmeplants.co.uk/plantdetails.aspx?id=222&am...
Important things are:
Soil - sandy/clay, alkaline/acid.
Insolation - posh word for how much sun does the site get?
Sheltered/exposed
Then consider if you want evergreen or deciduous (sheds leaves in autumn).
Acers are very pretty but expensive and generally smallish/slow-growing. Apple trees may need a pollinator if you want fruit; it depends on the variety.
I think your best bet is to go to a GOOD garden centre and tell then where you're at. Or if you want to do some homework first, the 'Notcutts Book of Plants' is virtually the bible.
Also remember that plants are not like furniture - you can't just bung them in and expect them to stay like that. If the plant is poorly chosen or neglected in the early years, it can easily die. If it thrives, you might have a giant on your hands!
By coincidence I bought a tree today - a Sumach (pronoucned shoo-mak) and now re-classified as Rhus: www.findmeplants.co.uk/plantdetails.aspx?id=222&am...
Make sure you're not in a Conservation Area or Greenbelt.. Otherwise the local arboriculturalist might get a bit interested.. Indeed it might even help to try and talk to him, so that you can get a good idea of a native tree to plant.. Be aware of growth and location with regards to the property (i.e. foundations!!)
What do you want from a tree? evergreen/fruit/flowers/leaf colour? (don't say yes to everything, you can't have it!).
I wouldn't entirely trust a garden centre as in my experience many of the people who work there just read the (usually not very accurate) label. Do some research as to what you want and then if necessary buy it online from a specialist nursery.
If you go for fruit, then you have to pay attention to the rootstock as well as the variety as the rootstock determines the overall size of the tree. As a starting point, I'd suggest you go for a Victoria plum on St. Julien A rootstock. Flowers in spring, self fertile with fruit from mid August onwards, some autumn colour, not too big and not very problematic.
I wouldn't entirely trust a garden centre as in my experience many of the people who work there just read the (usually not very accurate) label. Do some research as to what you want and then if necessary buy it online from a specialist nursery.
If you go for fruit, then you have to pay attention to the rootstock as well as the variety as the rootstock determines the overall size of the tree. As a starting point, I'd suggest you go for a Victoria plum on St. Julien A rootstock. Flowers in spring, self fertile with fruit from mid August onwards, some autumn colour, not too big and not very problematic.
What would i like from a tree?
I want:
Deciduous, Colour (green is ok but i think i'd prefer a purple/red), mature/semi mature
Don't want:
Fruit. Can't be bothered picking up rotten fruit off the lawn.
Flowers don't bother me much, but as i said it would have to be able to withstand wind.. The garden is fenced, but i'm right opposite the UK's largest wind farm!
Also, it can't get too big or take up too much spread or i'll get no sun and have no garden left!
I want:
Deciduous, Colour (green is ok but i think i'd prefer a purple/red), mature/semi mature
Don't want:
Fruit. Can't be bothered picking up rotten fruit off the lawn.
Flowers don't bother me much, but as i said it would have to be able to withstand wind.. The garden is fenced, but i'm right opposite the UK's largest wind farm!
Also, it can't get too big or take up too much spread or i'll get no sun and have no garden left!
Try - Acer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry'. Very upright habit adds height but not a lot of spread. In the same vein Prunus amanagawa is good value, lots of pink flowers in spring (I'm sure the missus won't object) and autumn colour too, also try Ulmus Hollandica Wredei - Golden Elm. The japanese maples, Acer palmatum varities are more like shrubs in habit for about the first 50 years or so being slow growing and quite low with it. If you do go for a purple leaved tree then be sparing with purple in the rest of the garden, it can be very attractive when rare but a bit dark and dreary if theres too much of it.
Have a look at a Japanese Birch Bark Cherry. The bark is red and peels like a silver birch, so it looks interesting in winter too, and you might get some cherry blossom too, though mine didn't fruit at all this year.
Chucklehead said:
What would i like from a tree?
I want:
Deciduous, Colour (green is ok but i think i'd prefer a purple/red), mature/semi mature
Don't want:
Fruit. Can't be bothered picking up rotten fruit off the lawn.
Flowers don't bother me much, but as i said it would have to be able to withstand wind.. The garden is fenced, but i'm right opposite the UK's largest wind farm!
Also, it can't get too big or take up too much spread or i'll get no sun and have no garden left!
I want:
Deciduous, Colour (green is ok but i think i'd prefer a purple/red), mature/semi mature
Don't want:
Fruit. Can't be bothered picking up rotten fruit off the lawn.
Flowers don't bother me much, but as i said it would have to be able to withstand wind.. The garden is fenced, but i'm right opposite the UK's largest wind farm!
Also, it can't get too big or take up too much spread or i'll get no sun and have no garden left!
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