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Tree for interest
Whilst at Grand Designs Live, I heard a talk by James
Alexander-Sinclair, who I have to say was a most engaging and informative speaker. He encouraged us not to keep plants simply because they have been there for a long time, saying that he often finds an overgrown forsythia in a corner of a garden, boring for most of the year, and constantly in need of cutting back. This prompted me to think about replacements for mine. I have room for a small tree, but wonder what is considered to provide the greatest amount of year-round interest? Chris -- Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh. |
Tree for interest
Chris J Dixon writes
Whilst at Grand Designs Live, I heard a talk by James Alexander-Sinclair, who I have to say was a most engaging and informative speaker. He encouraged us not to keep plants simply because they have been there for a long time, saying that he often finds an overgrown forsythia in a corner of a garden, boring for most of the year, and constantly in need of cutting back. This prompted me to think about replacements for mine. I have room for a small tree, but wonder what is considered to provide the greatest amount of year-round interest? Amelanchier - a large bush or small multistemmed tree. Bronze foliage in spring, followed by white blossom, berries, and finally good autumn colour. Any of the rowan type Sorbus, with white flowers, berries in yellow, orange, red, pink or white, depending on species, and good autumn colour. Snake bark type maple, for autumn colour and bark pattern through the winter. -- Kay |
Tree for interest
"K" wrote in message ... Chris J Dixon writes Whilst at Grand Designs Live, I heard a talk by James Alexander-Sinclair, who I have to say was a most engaging and informative speaker. He encouraged us not to keep plants simply because they have been there for a long time, saying that he often finds an overgrown forsythia in a corner of a garden, boring for most of the year, and constantly in need of cutting back. This prompted me to think about replacements for mine. I have room for a small tree, but wonder what is considered to provide the greatest amount of year-round interest? Amelanchier - a large bush or small multistemmed tree. Bronze foliage in spring, followed by white blossom, berries, and finally good autumn colour. Any of the rowan type Sorbus, with white flowers, berries in yellow, orange, red, pink or white, depending on species, and good autumn colour. Snake bark type maple, for autumn colour and bark pattern through the winter. -- Kay Also consider Crataegus x persimilis 'Prunifolia'. It's a stunning cherry-leaved hawthorn: white blossom in May, persistent red berries in autumn/winter, amazing flaming foliage colour prior to leaf fall. Very hardy, tolerant of pollution, loved by insects at blossom time, loved by birds when in berry. It does have 2"-3" stout thorns, though, which may affect your choice. Another thought would be any of the Crab apples (Malus species). Spider |
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I'm fond of my snake-bark maple. I think the bog-standard Acer davidii are not the best. I have Acer (grosseri var.) hersii (sometimes considered a subspecies of Acer davidii). Hers's Maple, which does what the previous poster says, and has showier snake markings than some. But they do fade a bit in the winter. Acer pensylvanicum is another one with very showy stripes. Other bark-trees that can be considered include the paper-bark maple acer griseum, and many showier birches, though some of those can get a bit big. Unfortunately Arbutus x andrachnoides gets very big. I find my amelanchiers a bit disappointing. Flowers for 10 minutes, berries not so wonderful unless you choose the variety carefully, and does need a moist non-alkaline soil to grow well. I rather like kowhai trees, which are some NZ sophoras such as microphylla and tetraptera, and there are also some "improved" garden cultivars. They have tiny evergreen or near evergreen elegant mimosa-like leaves, which provides year-round interest, plus yellow flowers in early spring, and long seed-pods. Though need protection from cold winds. There are of course many coniferous evergreens. Choose your own favourite. |
Tree for interest
On 2009-10-13 14:55:46 +0100, Chris J Dixon said:
Whilst at Grand Designs Live, I heard a talk by James Alexander-Sinclair, who I have to say was a most engaging and informative speaker. He encouraged us not to keep plants simply because they have been there for a long time, saying that he often finds an overgrown forsythia in a corner of a garden, boring for most of the year, and constantly in need of cutting back. This prompted me to think about replacements for mine. I have room for a small tree, but wonder what is considered to provide the greatest amount of year-round interest? Chris What about one of the fruit trees so that you get the blossom and the fruit, as long as it's self-polllinating or a neighbour has one, too. If you live in a suitable area Euryops chrysanthemoides (shrub, not a tree) is evergreen, flowers with us for something like 8 months of the year and has grown to over 4' tall with a spread about the same. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics. South Devon |
Tree for interest
In article ,
K wrote: Amelanchier - a large bush or small multistemmed tree. Bronze foliage in spring, followed by white blossom, berries, and finally good autumn colour. Any of the rowan type Sorbus, with white flowers, berries in yellow, orange, red, pink or white, depending on species, and good autumn colour. I always feel that the autumn leaves clash with the berries, and prefer plants with one or the other. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Tree for interest
On 13 Oct, 14:55, Chris J Dixon wrote:
Whilst at Grand Designs Live, I heard a talk by James Alexander-Sinclair, who I have to say was a most engaging and informative speaker. He encouraged us not to keep plants simply because they have been there for a long time, saying that he often finds an overgrown forsythia in a corner of a garden, boring for most of the year, and constantly in need of cutting back. This prompted me to think about replacements for mine. I have room for a small tree, but wonder what is considered to provide the greatest amount of year-round interest? Chris -- Chris J Dixon *Nottingham UK Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh. If it appears overgrown it's in the wrong place and should be got out. But try growing a forsythia somewhere that it can reach it's potential without being mutilated, then you'll have something truly spectacular - granted it's only for a short time but there aren't really that many plants that grab your attention on every day of the year. A good crab like 'Golden Hornet' isn't bad on year round interest - or as Sacha has already suggested, almost any fruit tree - if it's a Cherry be prepared to donate your crop to the birds or to protect it (squirrels will destroy anything short of wire netting if there are cherries the other side) We all know about the wonderful foliage on Acers but many of them also make wonderful winter shapes in maturity. Rod |
Tree for interest
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Tree for interest
Rod wrote:
If it appears overgrown it's in the wrong place and should be got out. But try growing a forsythia somewhere that it can reach it's potential without being mutilated, then you'll have something truly spectacular - granted it's only for a short time but there aren't really that many plants that grab your attention on every day of the year. A good crab like 'Golden Hornet' isn't bad on year round interest - or as Sacha has already suggested, almost any fruit tree - if it's a Cherry be prepared to donate your crop to the birds or to protect it (squirrels will destroy anything short of wire netting if there are cherries the other side) We all know about the wonderful foliage on Acers but many of them also make wonderful winter shapes in maturity. Thanks for all the suggestions so far, please keep them coming. My garden is not large, and I already have a selection of Acers of various sizes, (currently looking glorious) though that's not to say I won't weaken again if I see the right one. The autumn colour of a liquidamber attracts me, but unless there is a compact variety, I don't think I have the room. Chris -- Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh. |
Tree for interest
Chris J Dixon writes
The autumn colour of a liquidamber attracts me, but unless there is a compact variety, I don't think I have the room. Two good plants for autumn colour are spindleberry and its relatives (deciduous Euonymous) and Fothergillia. The Fothergillia has lovely fluffy white flowers in spring, but it likes a neutral to acid soil. -- Kay |
Tree for interest
K wrote:
Amelanchier gets rid of its berries well before the leaves colour, as does rowan. My yellow, white and pink Sorbus at the moment all have great clusters of berries but no leaves. My rowan has coloured and lost at least half its leaves, but most of the berries are still in place. Chris -- Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh. |
Tree for interest
Chris J Dixon wrote:
Whilst at Grand Designs Live, I heard a talk by James Alexander-Sinclair, who I have to say was a most engaging and informative speaker. He encouraged us not to keep plants simply because they have been there for a long time, saying that he often finds an overgrown forsythia in a corner of a garden, boring for most of the year, and constantly in need of cutting back. This prompted me to think about replacements for mine. I have room for a small tree, but wonder what is considered to provide the greatest amount of year-round interest? Chris At the risc of being flamed for hi-jacking this thread, the school where I work part time has had 3 (soon to be 5) planters installed 1000 x 1000 x 700deep) which I have been told will be planted with 'trees' The planters are in a large (tennis court+) internal quad surrounded with single story buildings with a high pitched roofline. I know that there will be major watering problems but I am assured that 'the children will do that' (& come in during the 6 week summer break?) The planters have been filled with qua good quality soil/compost mix and stand on a tarmac base. I have ideas such as Acer, Mountain ash etc. Does the panel have any suggestions? TIA Malcolm |
Tree for interest
On 2009-10-14 22:47:32 +0100, Malcolm said:
Chris J Dixon wrote: Whilst at Grand Designs Live, I heard a talk by James Alexander-Sinclair, who I have to say was a most engaging and informative speaker. He encouraged us not to keep plants simply because they have been there for a long time, saying that he often finds an overgrown forsythia in a corner of a garden, boring for most of the year, and constantly in need of cutting back. This prompted me to think about replacements for mine. I have room for a small tree, but wonder what is considered to provide the greatest amount of year-round interest? Chris At the risc of being flamed for hi-jacking this thread, the school where I work part time has had 3 (soon to be 5) planters installed 1000 x 1000 x 700deep) which I have been told will be planted with 'trees' The planters are in a large (tennis court+) internal quad surrounded with single story buildings with a high pitched roofline. I know that there will be major watering problems but I am assured that 'the children will do that' (& come in during the 6 week summer break?) The planters have been filled with qua good quality soil/compost mix and stand on a tarmac base. I have ideas such as Acer, Mountain ash etc. Does the panel have any suggestions? TIA Malcolm Yes, it's a rotten idea, IMO. They won't get watered properly but will get 'drowned' every so often and allowed to stand in wet compost or to dry out entirely in between. Either a groundsman is going to tend them properly or the money might as well be thrown away now. And as for 'trees' being planted in such a way - well, good luck to both the trees and the tarmac, IMO! Do the people intending to plant these trees realise that - as a rough rule of thumb - roots go as deep as a canopy spreads? -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics. South Devon |
Tree for interest
In article ,
Sacha wrote: On 2009-10-14 22:47:32 +0100, Malcolm said: At the risc of being flamed for hi-jacking this thread, the school where I work part time has had 3 (soon to be 5) planters installed 1000 x 1000 x 700deep) which I have been told will be planted with 'trees' The planters are in a large (tennis court+) internal quad surrounded with single story buildings with a high pitched roofline. I know that there will be major watering problems but I am assured that 'the children will do that' (& come in during the 6 week summer break?) The planters have been filled with qua good quality soil/compost mix and stand on a tarmac base. I have ideas such as Acer, Mountain ash etc. Does the panel have any suggestions? Yes, it's a rotten idea, IMO. They won't get watered properly but will get 'drowned' every so often and allowed to stand in wet compost or to dry out entirely in between. Either a groundsman is going to tend them properly or the money might as well be thrown away now. And as for 'trees' being planted in such a way - well, good luck to both the trees and the tarmac, IMO! Do the people intending to plant these trees realise that - as a rough rule of thumb - roots go as deep as a canopy spreads? Yes, and Acer and mountain ash are particularly unsuitable. Most of the former really do not like drying out, and the latter handles that by running its roots deeply. Sorry. There are plants that will handle such conditions, such as (you may laugh) pomegranate. It may drop its leaves when it dries out, but it won't die - and it's surprisingly hardy. But it's not really much of a tree, though it's a nice shrub. There may be some trees from that sort of terrain that can survive drying out, but I can't think of any offhand. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Tree for interest
On 14 Oct, 23:23, Sacha wrote:
On 2009-10-14 22:47:32 +0100, Malcolm said: Chris J Dixon wrote: Whilst at Grand Designs Live, I heard a talk by James Alexander-Sinclair, who I have to say was a most engaging and informative speaker. He encouraged us not to keep plants simply because they have been there for a long time, saying that he often finds an overgrown forsythia in a corner of a garden, boring for most of the year, and constantly in need of cutting back. This prompted me to think about replacements for mine. I have room for a small tree, but wonder what is considered to provide the greatest amount of year-round interest? Chris At the risc of being flamed for hi-jacking this thread, the school where I work part time has had 3 (soon to be 5) planters installed 1000 x 1000 x 700deep) which I have been told will be planted with 'trees' * The planters are in a large (tennis court+) internal quad surrounded with single story buildings with a high pitched roofline. *I know that there will be major watering problems but I am assured that 'the children will do that' (& come in during the 6 week summer break?) The planters have been filled with qua good quality soil/compost mix and stand on a tarmac base. I have ideas such as Acer, Mountain ash etc. *Does the panel have any suggestions? TIA Malcolm Yes, it's a rotten idea, IMO. *They won't get watered properly but will get 'drowned' every so often and allowed to stand in wet compost or to dry out entirely in between. *Either a groundsman is going to tend them properly or the money might as well be thrown away now. *And as for 'trees' being planted in such a way - well, good luck to both the trees and the tarmac, IMO! *Do the people intending to plant these trees realise that - as a rough rule of thumb - roots go as deep as a canopy spreads? -- Sachawww.hillhousenursery.com Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics. South Devon- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Can't add anything to that, I can't forsee any other outcome - sorry. Modern supermarket carpark planting does this, though the 'containers' are hidden below ground. You get stunted growth, dieback and premature autumn leaf drop. If you did it to an animal you'd be locked up in short order. Rod |
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