Inaba Shidare Acer Tree
A tree normally has apical dominance - that is to say the growing point of the main stem - trunk - is the dominant factor in determining its shape and ultimately height. A large shrub on the other hand, usually - not always - has a number of branches with no apical dominance. Compared to other plant forms, trees are long-lived. Some species of trees can grow to 115 m (375 ft) tall and can live for a few thousand years.
Trees are important features of our natural landscape. They prevent erosion and are significant elements in landscaping and agriculture, both for their aesthetic appeal and their food crops (such as apples).
Silver Birch Tree
Trees often have a bad press in relation to problems caused by poor siting in the first place, and poor care afterwards. The care regime is probably as a result of the fact that trees in the garden generally look after themselves, with a root systems that are capable of hunting out food at great depths and distances.
Many problems with trees are caused by improper pruning, with little thought being given to the final result some years later.
The Right Tree - in the right place in the garden can be very beneficial. Knowledge of what you are planting is essential, for unlike many garden plants, if the wrong choice is planted in the wrong situation, it takes more than simply a spade to dig it out!
Planting a tree is planting a long-term asset. Make the right choice and you together with your family will have years of benefits. Conversely, make the wrong choice and the asset becomes a liability.
Hopefully our advice about trees will go some way to pointing you in the right direction.
Acer Trees
Acer Trees / Japanese Maples are ideal for the Patio and the edge of a Pond. Acer trees live very happily in pots and containers for 30 - 40 years.
Acers vibrant colours from their ever changing leaves and colourful barks makes them the United Kingdoms favourite plants.
Acers grow to the size of their pots, if you want to keep them small, keep them in a small pot.
Planting a Tree
Whatever the size of tree or shrub, there is a basic routine to follow to ensure success. Your tree or shrub planting will be a success, or a failure depending upon some very basic little things.
One of the most important things to ensure success with your tree planting, is to make sure that the tree is planted at the depth that it is already being grown in the container - or up to the soil mark on the stem if an open ground grown tree.
Feeding Trees
It is a little realized fact – even with some experienced gardeners – that most trees will benefit from feeding. This is particularly the case with smaller ornamental and fruit orchard trees than with the large indigenous trees of parkland areas. Many trees grow well most of the time and rarely show recognizable problems associated with lack of feeding.
Subsidence
Subsidence occurs when the (clay) soil under the building foundations shrinks; thereby leaving the walls without proper support. The building will then drop, and cracks may appear in the walls.
The ‘shrinking’ and ‘heaving’ of the soil may be a result of the seasonal variations in ground water levels. Extremely dry summers often make the problem of house subsidence worse.
Small Garden Trees
Advice and information on Fastigiate and small trees suitable for planting and growing in small gardens.
There are many different ideas as to what is a small garden, and also what is a small tree! We try to make the choice of trees for small gardens a little easier.
Norway Maple
- Not for most gardens! Acer platanoides and its many cultivars, are only suitable for a medium to large garden - unless you are after a big patch of shade. Just because it has the names 'Maple' and 'Acer' it does not mean it is one of those attractive small shrubs for the garden - Attractive yes; small, no! It is a medium to large tree favoured by local councils in their parks and at the roadside - where it will give plenty of shade! It's general habit of growth is with a spreading canopy - however there are a few narrower varieties within the large group.
Sorbus hupehensis
This pink berried tree is well suited to all but the smallest of gardens. Small tree - Mountain Ash, but with pink berries that are held well into the winter.
Sorbus Cashmiriana
Sorbus cashmiriana - or the Kashmir Rowan is a small to medium tree or large shrub of the Mountain Ash or Rowan Tree group. This one with white berries.
Lichen in the Garden
Lichen is a complex organism, sometimes referred to as a fungus; sometimes algae; sometimes moss. Two of those descriptions are nearly right for lichen is a combination of two separate and unrelated forms of ‘plant’ life - being part algae and part fungus. The two parts combine together to make up the organism that we refer to as lichen.
Apple-Cox's Orange Pippin
Apples and fruit trees can now be grown in containers on the patio - as well as in an orchard. Strawberries -yum yum - can be grown in a hanging basket or a window box even!
Make sure that the kids are involved in the growing of fruit - not just the picking and eating of strawberries!
