Never too late to plant a tree
… even if you only have a tiny balcony or a pot!
THE best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago. Thankfully the second-best time is right now! Trees are becoming more and more important and as we battle climate change and learn more we realise just how valuable they are. Providing habitat for all manner of wildlife, shade, timber and oxygen for us.
Trees come in all shapes and sizes and have lifespans ranging from about 50 to 1000s of years. They can grow in a variety of habitats and spaces and as a result there’s one for every garden. National tree week next month (March 3-10) will encourage us to learn about and plant as many trees as possible, especially those that are native.
We don’t all have huge gardens where we can plant a grove of oaks, but thankfully even a balcony can grow a dwarf tree. Trees can add height, form, texture, shelter and habitat, even in the smallest gardens. They flower, give seasonality and in some cases can even be productive.
I’ve came up with a list of trees to suit any size garden below:
LARGE GARDEN
Not all trees have a number of seasons, and my next recommendation Liquidambar styraciflua or the sweet gum only really comes into its own in autumn, but what a sight when it does.
For a few weeks it glows the most amazing deep red shades and will outshine all around it, making anyone who sees it jealous. They are relatively large and can grow up to 20m but given the right space are spectacular.
COASTAL GARDEN
For something a little different try the Killarney strawberry tree Arbutus unedo. It is in fact a native plant and grows to about 6m. It’s a tough evergreen that flowers and fruits at the same usually in autumn and into spring if the year isn’t too cold. They will tolerate some costal exposure but to look their best should be planted in a more sheltered part the plot
SUBURBAN GARDEN
If I only could plant one trees in my small garden it would be a crab apple. Malus ‘Golden Hornet’ in particular is a tough reliable tree that in spring is covered in massed of flowers before the autumn brings not only lovely autumnal foliage but the most amazing crab apple display you’ll see. They are tough, great for wildlife and relatively small trees up to about 6m and take pruning really well.
BALCONY (OR EVEN A POT)
Prunus incisa Kojo-no-mai or the dwarf flowering cherry is a particular cherry that in its maturity will only get to 2.5m but it can be pruned after it flowers to keep it in any sized space. It has the added bonus of having amazing autumn colour and is not very fast growing. The flowers in spring are pink washed and very dainty.
FOR PRIVACY
Our plots are becoming more confined and privacy is something we all want if we can in our gardens. Often a new house or building pops up and the best way to disguised it is with a tree. Evergreens are preferable, but often bring their own problems. Holly trees can be effective and certainly provide a dense screen. Photinia can also be effective. If you want privacy you’ll probably want the tree to be mature to begin with, so it’s worth investing in a larger specimen. Just remember it will need a lot of after-care.