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Emery Davis[_2_] · 24-02-2009, 09:10 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening

wrote:
My old apple tree’s got some rotten branches and a tree surgeon told
me it's probably only got a couple of years left. It's at the end of
my garden, on clay soil and gets partial sunshine. In replacing it I
want to minimise the hole in the tree-line at the end of my garden as
much as reasonably possible.

I’m looking at what replace it with (today’s fave is the Paperbark
Maple). The new one doesn’t have to go exactly where the old one was,
so I was thinking of planting it a metre or so away and then slowly
trimming the apple tree back over the next couple of years before
cutting it down completely. This would give the new one room to
expand, while minimising the loss of greenery in my garden .

I don’t know much about tree planting, so was wondering if this is a
sensible plan or would it stifle the new tree?

The paperbark maple (A. griseum) is a very easy tree, certainly one of
the easiest maples to grow. It will do fine even on very heavy soils,
but be unhappy in a bog.

You should be aware that it is a very slow grower, and large specimens
are quite expensive (although available in the trade.) The cost comes
because it is difficult to graft, and the seed germination rate is less
than 1%. (Much seed is non-viable also).

It will do better in full sun than partial shade, but the shade is OK too.

According to your plan any new tree will be competing with the well
established apple, which will give it a hard time establishing. (You'll
probably have to water). griseum has modest moisture needs compared to
most maples, but even still I'd take the old tree out completely before
planting.

If the position makes the bark a less significant feature, you may want
to consider A. triflorum. This species is closely related, has similar
foliage and fall colour is just as good, but it will be less dear for a
large specimen tree. (The bark is less interesting, being rather shaggy
instead of exfoliating.)

HTH

-E