Green Fingers: Small trees that suit most gardens
There are a number of small growing trees which are ideal, such as Japanese Acer palmatum and its varieties.
With gardening we have to accept that the seasons have ceased to be predictable and, quite often, abnormal weather conditions seem to appear from nowhere.
We have had a warm summer and now we are seeing lots of rain with wind. We want to know if this is something we have to look forward to from now on.
As plants are living things, they will grow continuously, the rate of which can vary with plant type, location and conditions.
One of the most common requests from people with gardens is about the size their plants will grow, and can they have a plant which will grow fast to the size they wish and then stay like that forever.
Fewer people have large gardens where the size that plants grow to does not matter too much. For most people, and there is no going back, the gardens are becoming smaller still and that means that planting has to be confined to smaller growing plants. If you feel that the choice of plants is too restrictive then move up a notch and pick medium growing types, which can be pruned and kept into a shape and size that you wish.
Normally when we think of trees, we are visualising a plant with a trunk and leaves that open in the spring and go through their growing phases until leaf fall, where it will remain with bare branches in winter. Its attraction might be one or a combination of shape, flowers, autumn colours and berries.
There are a number of small growing trees that will fit into this description and I have only room to mention them by name but the details can be checked out when needed. They include dwarf maples, including the Japanese Acer palmatum and its varieties, Amelanchier lamarkii, Cercis ‘Forest Pansy’, some Cornus, Fagus ‘purpurea pendula’, Sorbus vilmorinii and Syringa meyeri (lilac).
Medium growing shrubs including some evergreens (E) can be trained into interesting tree shapes or pyramids depending on your preference and include arbutus (E), Camellia (E), Corokia (E), Corylopsis, Cotoneaster (E), Enkianthus, some Euonymus (E), Ilex – Holly (E), Laurel - Bay leaf (E), Magnolia, Nandina (E), Pieris (E), Pittosporum (E) and some Viburnum.
There are a few other possible plants that will make small tree shapes but will give you more variety and they include conifers, evergreen shrubs and apple trees.
Conifers were once popular as they were evergreen and had interesting coloured foliage but are seldom planted now as they are out of fashion but a few can make all the difference in a well-designed garden, including using one as a small tree. Pick from a number of slow-growing types and then, in time, they can be shaped into a Japanese-style tree.
As we live in a country with relatively moist conditions, it is no surprise that moss will grow where and whenever it can. Moss can look pretty in the right place but it can make paths and hard-covered areas very slippy so it needs to be controlled where this occurs.
If you have any queries or comments you are welcome to share them with me on 051-384273 or orchardstowngardencentre@hotmail.com I will include it in a future article.
