The weeks leading up to National Tree week (27th Nov) is the ideal tree planting season and reminds us all how trees are vital for the environment. This month the trees are full of beautiful Autumn colours and to celebrate we are offering customers 15% of all in-stock trees.
What is the best time of year to plant a tree?
Trees can be planted at any time of year, but they will need very different amounts of care depending on the planting season. Autumn is idea - the soil is still relatively warm with plenty of moisture. The tree may drop its leaves and appear to be dormant, but below ground the roots will be growing, and the soil structure will be forming around the plant. Come the spring, the tree will be ready to leap into growth and be able to develop through the summer with minimal need for any additional care.
What trees would you recommend for small gardens?
Rowans (Sorbus) and Hawthorns (Crataegus) are small growing, low maintenance trees for any garden. There are many varieties to choose from and they will all reward you with lovely displays of flowers in the spring, colourful fruit in late summer, and some can provide dramatic displays of autumn colour. They are also fantastic habitats for our native wildlife. Try Sorbus ‘Eastern Promise’ for clusters of big red fruits, and amazing burgundy red leaves in the Autumn, or Crataegus ‘Prunifolia Splendons’ for glowing red fruits and burnt-orange autumn colours.
Are there any trees which cope better with our increasingly dry summers?
Yes! Hawthorns are very drought tolerant once established, and for a more dramatic display try Cercis such as Cercis ‘Hearts of Gold’ for stunning shaped leaves and good autumn colour. In sheltered sites, the tropical looking Foxglove Tree (Paulownia) and Indian Bean Tree (Catalpa) are a good choice.
What trees are best for autumn colour?
Reliable autumn shows can be tricky, but possibly the best displays come from Liquidambar and the lesser known Nyssa - both feature rich colours of reds, oranges, and purples. Many Acers can also give superb displays, such as Acer ‘Sango Kaku’ with pink stems and strong butter yellow leaves. Prunus ‘Shirofugen’ is an ornamental cherry that gives very bold shows of reds and burgundy.
Are there any trees which are particularly attractive to wildlife?
The best trees for wildlife are those with simple flowers, regardless of being called a native tree or not. All the cherries, hawthorns, and rowans are particularly great, as they offer food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife.
Which trees are less susceptible for disease?
Growing conditions and location can make a huge difference to a tree's ability to fight off disease. If the tree has plenty of food, water, and light they can fight of most things that come their way. The biggest problems can come from waterlogged soils, so always prepare the planting ground with plenty of organic matter, and improve the drainage if there looks to be any waterlogging of the soil.
What is your favourite tree?
Sorbus ‘Olympic Flame’, a lovely small to medium tree with cream flowers in the spring, bright green leaves during the summer, and brilliant reds and purples in the autumn.
Has this given you a taste for getting planting? Buy any tree during October and receive 15% off at the checkout.
