YOUR GARDEN Special branches

Trees can provide fruit, blossom, shape and colour, bringing a special and lasting joy to your garden. You just need to pick the right one for you towering conifers with excellent structure and winter colour.

Fruit trees are fantastic because they often provide beautiful blossom, fantastic autumn colour and, of course, edible fruits. Apple, pear, cherry, plum and even almond trees grow well in UK gardens.

Many people think you need a lot of space to grow fruit trees but, actually, you just need to ensure it gets pollinated.

Do this by purchasing two compatible trees to pollinate each other or buy a self-pollinating tree if you have room for only one.

If your neighbour has a fruit tree, why not check what they have? That way you can get a compatible tree to pollinate the other and vice versa, bringing you both a wonderful crop.

For very small gardens, bush apple trees are available and you can also buy a family tree, which has different apple varieties growing on it that will pollinate each other.

I’d go for the variety ‘Laxton’s Superb’ for a small self-pollinating apple tree that brings pretty spring colour as well as tasty apples. Do bear in mind that most fruit trees require a sunny spot.

Trees can also be a fantastic ornamental addition to your garden, forming the basis for a wider garden design. Think olive trees in a Mediterranean-style garden or acers in a Japanese-style set-up.

Prunus Pendula ‘Rosea’ is an excellent weeping ornamental cherry variety with lovely arching branches that drip with pale pink flowers in spring.

It doesn’t grow very large, so is perfect for smaller spaces. Or try the elegant Pyrus Salicifolia ‘Pendula’ in a sunny spot or Betula pendula ‘Youngii’ for ornamental bark.

The quiet arrival of the autumn garden is a sight to behold and choosing trees for their colour can really add to this effect.

Japanese maples are an obvious choice and there is a huge variety available for many types of garden.

I really like Acer palmatum ‘Trompenburg’ for its interesting colour-changing foliage that starts off purple in spring and then ends up a vibrant orange in autumn.

Blue spruce, Picea glauca, is also a good choice to add some fascinating foliage and colour over winter. Or try the Norway Maple ‘Drummondii’ for a lovely variegated leaf and a dazzling autumn display.

Some trees, such as the magnificent magnolia, are grown simply for their exquisite spring flowers.

The Magnolia x Soulangeana has beautiful goblet-shaped pink and creamy white flowers, while the Malus x moerlandsii ‘Profusion’ has stunning carmine blossoms that are incredibly deep in colour.

Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ is often grown for its interesting light red flowers in spring and glossy green leaves throughout summer.

You can buy trees pre-grown in pots that are ready to take home from the garden centre.

Once you have got them home, soak the plant thoroughly in its pot and leave overnight, placing in a shady area until ready to plant.

Dig a hole about twice as big as the pot it came in. Lightly fork over the soil at the bottom and sides of the hole, and line with a little compost.

Remember to remove any weeds or large stones from the planting site. When you put your tree in the hole, be careful to ensure that it is not planted any deeper than the soil level of the pot that it came in.

A common mistake people make when planting trees is to plant them too deep.

If your tree is in an exposed area or is very top heavy, stake it for support, and then water in well.

It is especially important when planting trees during summer to keep watering them well, right throughout the season.

Once it is established, your tree will be a permanent and beautiful feature in your garden.