Tree planting advice
Discussion
I want to plant 3 or 4 trees at the top end of my garden to help establish it a little more (new build) and also provide additional privacy over time.
The length of the wall on which the arbour backs up on to is just under 5 meters long, I'd been thinking about putting in a bark / slate border about 1200 in depth and would like to have a tree either side of the arbour itself. I'm also thinking about making the border more of a feature and extending it down the left hand wall by several meters and if possible planing 1 or 2 more trees there. The image above is east facing.
I want something that's going to grow to a maximum height of 4-5 meters over time, there is a tarmac drive behind the arbour and private road to the left so I don't want anything that's going to cause significant root damage over time. In terms of looks I'm keen on something that flowers at some point in the year such as a magnolia or some kind of cherry tree, but I also like the idea of a fruit tree or silver birch.
That's about as far as I've got, I'm looking for suggestions and advice in regards to what'd be best suited in those positions and anything else that I should be aware of.
The length of the wall on which the arbour backs up on to is just under 5 meters long, I'd been thinking about putting in a bark / slate border about 1200 in depth and would like to have a tree either side of the arbour itself. I'm also thinking about making the border more of a feature and extending it down the left hand wall by several meters and if possible planing 1 or 2 more trees there. The image above is east facing.
I want something that's going to grow to a maximum height of 4-5 meters over time, there is a tarmac drive behind the arbour and private road to the left so I don't want anything that's going to cause significant root damage over time. In terms of looks I'm keen on something that flowers at some point in the year such as a magnolia or some kind of cherry tree, but I also like the idea of a fruit tree or silver birch.
That's about as far as I've got, I'm looking for suggestions and advice in regards to what'd be best suited in those positions and anything else that I should be aware of.
Thanks for the advice so far, think I'm set on at least one cherry tree, my OCD will probably lead to getting another so I can have one either side of the arbour. Lelandii are a big no-no as far as I'm concerned but I had considered using some climbers up the wall to the left, possibly roses with a trained apple tree, the photinias look interesting too
Luckily we've got a very well stocked independent garden centre / nursery that's about 2 minutes walk up the road, the only downside is that they've got such a big selection that I'm not sure what to pick (hence the post) I spent an hour in there yesterday and the pricing seemed quite reasonable for trees that were between 2 and 3 meters tall (£40-70 for most varieties, however the silver birches and magnolias were £150-170 depending on size and spread).
In regards to privacy I think the photo doesn't do the plot much justice, the house behind us is at least 35 meters away from ours and the two to the side are at an oblique angle that the overlook from the bedrooms isn't really that much of an issue. Its certainly no less private than any house I've owned or lived in before and is significantly more private than most of the plots you'd get these days from the big builders - ours is a small development of 5 houses by a private builder, he originally applied to put 7 houses on the site but because we're next to a conservation area the planners insisted on greater spacing to remain in keeping with the immediate area. In fact, you wouldn't think it looking at the picture but in terms of public privacy our plot is the most private, there is a public right of way to the countryside behind us accessed from the private drive, our garden is the only one that is fully enclosed, all the other plots have exposed gardens you can see clearly into via the open driveways to the side / rear of the houses and to the front we have a deep planted boarder with a three meter grass verge to the kerb and no public footpath so no-one can walk along the front aspect.
Luckily we've got a very well stocked independent garden centre / nursery that's about 2 minutes walk up the road, the only downside is that they've got such a big selection that I'm not sure what to pick (hence the post) I spent an hour in there yesterday and the pricing seemed quite reasonable for trees that were between 2 and 3 meters tall (£40-70 for most varieties, however the silver birches and magnolias were £150-170 depending on size and spread).
In regards to privacy I think the photo doesn't do the plot much justice, the house behind us is at least 35 meters away from ours and the two to the side are at an oblique angle that the overlook from the bedrooms isn't really that much of an issue. Its certainly no less private than any house I've owned or lived in before and is significantly more private than most of the plots you'd get these days from the big builders - ours is a small development of 5 houses by a private builder, he originally applied to put 7 houses on the site but because we're next to a conservation area the planners insisted on greater spacing to remain in keeping with the immediate area. In fact, you wouldn't think it looking at the picture but in terms of public privacy our plot is the most private, there is a public right of way to the countryside behind us accessed from the private drive, our garden is the only one that is fully enclosed, all the other plots have exposed gardens you can see clearly into via the open driveways to the side / rear of the houses and to the front we have a deep planted boarder with a three meter grass verge to the kerb and no public footpath so no-one can walk along the front aspect.
Thanks to this thread I've gone and bought 7 6ft bushy Red Robins today for another part of the garden, Im going to plant them east facing against a 6ft clapboard boundary fence.
I currently have lawn all the way up to the fence and was wondering if I dig out a strip of the lawn and plant them in a border with nothing else, if it'd be okay to cover the border over with some black felt liner and bark chippings - otherwise the dogs will just dig at the bare earth.
Failing that do I just plant them straight into the lawn and let nature take its course? I guess I could mow under the bushes to the front and any grass at the back of the bushes leading up to the fence would die off in time.
I currently have lawn all the way up to the fence and was wondering if I dig out a strip of the lawn and plant them in a border with nothing else, if it'd be okay to cover the border over with some black felt liner and bark chippings - otherwise the dogs will just dig at the bare earth.
Failing that do I just plant them straight into the lawn and let nature take its course? I guess I could mow under the bushes to the front and any grass at the back of the bushes leading up to the fence would die off in time.
Thanks, that's helpful. Plants have just been delivered, dogs have already had a good sniff and root around the back of them.
Will cut the grass right back in the morning, rake out roots and turnover. Already got some good compost and bone/fish/blood feed ready so hopefully if the weather holds in the morning I'll get them in the ground for lunch.
Will cut the grass right back in the morning, rake out roots and turnover. Already got some good compost and bone/fish/blood feed ready so hopefully if the weather holds in the morning I'll get them in the ground for lunch.
Edited by CSLchappie on Thursday 30th March 19:59
cylon said:
very nice, how much and from where? if you don't mind. thx
£60 per plant from Moores Gardens and Nurseries in Stanton on the Wolds (Nottingham) That seemed to be about the going rate, I'd looked at getting them from Hedges Direct as rootballs and also another local nursery, Seagraves in Barrow upon Soar but would not have been able to see / pick the plants up front. Moores are only 5-6 miles away and they do an informal delivery service so I rocked up yesterday afternoon after weeks of umming and ahhing, picked the plants, paid and got them delivered that evening.Just finished getting them in the ground, now off to get some edging strips so I can fix down the felt before covering over with bark, typically the dogs didn't want to help when it came to digging the holes, but are now quite willing to go digging in the borders...
elanfan said:
Slight tangent - have you considered trellis on top of the wall and a nice climber growing through it. Not sure how safe it would be but what about planters fixed to the top of the wall and you then have a massive choice of what to put in them.
I had actually been thinking about that for the other side of the garden;
Maybe running a section across the lower part of the wall to the left and then getting some climbers in the borders (next job this weekend if the weather holds)
I've finally got round to doing the work that originally started this thread.
I bought most of the plants and trees last Friday then spent 8-8 all day Saturday digging out the borders and planting them (with the exception of the Laurels that were planted the week before) In the end I plumped for a trio of Betula utilis Jacquemontii (to the left) and a lone Betula Albosinensis 'red panda' by the gate.
In the border down the side I picked a mixed bag that will hopefully fill out the space in time and add blast of colour throughout spring and summer in years to come, Viburnum, a pair of Magnolias, a lone Photinia (pink crispy var) Syringa and a Chinese Black Pearl.
Next jobs are probably a raised planter between the lower edge of the lawn and the seating area and a run of trellis on the lower part of the boundary wall to the far left.
I bought most of the plants and trees last Friday then spent 8-8 all day Saturday digging out the borders and planting them (with the exception of the Laurels that were planted the week before) In the end I plumped for a trio of Betula utilis Jacquemontii (to the left) and a lone Betula Albosinensis 'red panda' by the gate.
In the border down the side I picked a mixed bag that will hopefully fill out the space in time and add blast of colour throughout spring and summer in years to come, Viburnum, a pair of Magnolias, a lone Photinia (pink crispy var) Syringa and a Chinese Black Pearl.
Next jobs are probably a raised planter between the lower edge of the lawn and the seating area and a run of trellis on the lower part of the boundary wall to the far left.
Thanks, I got everything from a couple of local garden centres, however the trees originally came from here;
http://www.frankpmatthews.com/stockists
Looks like there are plenty of stockists across the UK. The standard silver birch were £40 each, the red panda £45. The most of the shrubs were between £20-30 with the pink photinia being the most expensive at £40.
http://www.frankpmatthews.com/stockists
Looks like there are plenty of stockists across the UK. The standard silver birch were £40 each, the red panda £45. The most of the shrubs were between £20-30 with the pink photinia being the most expensive at £40.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff