The grandest trees to grow
Here are 12 trees you should plant in your paddocks, simply because they're beautiful.
It must be a fantastic feeling to stand under a majestic, 30m tall dawn redwood that you grew from a cutting. To shelter under a mighty oak that was once an acorn in your pocket. Peter can do both. He spent 70 years on his Otorohanga farm, planting forestry blocks for timber and landscape trees for beauty.
Now 94, he's sold the farm, but his son Robb owns the land around the family farmhouse, home to many of Peter's magnificent trees.
It's a rare, almost inconceivable opportunity to plant a grand, sprawling tree, then wait 30 years or more for it to reach full size.
It's a joy to tour an arboretum of spectacular trees, guided by the farmer who grew them.
Peter is well known for his contribution to the NZ tree community. He helped plan and plant Brook Park arboretum in Te Kuiti. He's been a committee member of the Waikato Tree Crops Association since its establishment in 1976, and an active member of the Farm Forestry Association. He still goes to field days, gifting trees or teaching grafting and propagation.
Trees, Peter explains – even grand statement trees – don't live in isolation. Together, they create a vista. There's the contrast of the yellow feathery spring growth of a honey locust against the dense hedge of red cedar. The startling red of a copper beach glittering above the smooth green of a magnolia. It's a palette for the eye.
Trees have multiple benefits:
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shade and shelter;
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privacy;
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nutrient cycling in the soil;
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food, for humans, insects, and birds;
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habitat for birds and insects;
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firewood;
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treehouse location.
But there's also an emotional side to it, says Peter. Every tree soothes the soul. Every tree should be appreciated for itself, for its aesthetics, and its calming effect on the human psyche.
I've written previous columns about good trees for firewood and ones suitable for stock. My question for Peter was, if he wanted to plant some impressive paddock trees on a block, where there might only be room for one or two, what would he recommend? 12 trees recommended by an expert
If anyone knows the good and bad points of trees, it's Peter. But ask him to choose, and he says it's like asking which is your favourite child. They all have their good attributes, their seasons, their time to shine, and some have drawbacks.
His advice is to think about what you appreciate most:
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flowers in spring?
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summer leaves?
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autumn colour?
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gnarly trunks and bare branches in winter?
There's no perfect tree, but Peter came up with 12 that he's enjoyed over the years. They flourish in Otorohanga (50km south of Hamilton), and suit most North Island climates. However, always check a tree's suitability for your region before planting anything.