Need some help choosing trees

[deefadog]

Hi guyz, I am ready to get some trees for my garden - 9 in all, 3 on each side and 3 on the back.

I have been looking on the web for information, but the websites are not that clear. And i suppose like most not really knowing what i actually want.

Basically i want something like a silver birch (or if someone can recommend another type) so I have the leaves appearing around the tops of my 6 ft fences.

How far from the edge of the fence can i plant these? Where are the best places to buy from?

Sorry it's vague, but any help will be much appreciated.

 

[roberta1000]

Silver Birch eh?

A standard silver birch is a large tree growing anything up to 100 feet tall and quickly. As it isn't a particularly strong tree it is also prone to drop branches and even blow over. As if that weren't enough it also seeds prolifically.

 

[Symptoms]

dog - you don't say how big your garden is or where in the UK you are - both of these factors will determine your planting. Post more info.

 

[WarPig]

Some insurance companies dont allow yout to have silver birch within a certain distance from your house. Perhaps because of the eventual height they reach, or because of the roots affecting the house.

Why not fruit trees?

Robinia trees look great but can get tall.

Native trees such as hawthorne etc.

Magnolia look superb

 

[deefadog]

Sorry guyz, here some more info - I am in south wales, ground is around 2 ft top soil with clay underneath.

The garden size is - 10 meters wide by 18 meters long. It's a new build, so the 2 sides and back are the usual wooden 6ft fences (12ft at the back) with neighbors gardens beyond that.

The nearest tree will be around 4 meters from the house.

I have ruled out silver birch as like you say the roots could become a problem.

Spent 3 hours last night and found some possibilities:

Hornbeam

COPPER CHERRY PLUM

Whitebeam

Ash

I don't have a lot to spend probably around £250 - so my first thought is to put 3 Copper Cherry tress up each side (as these seem to be the lowest tree i can find that is suitable) and 3 ash trees along the back. I have found these for around £15- £20 each and come at around 1.8 meters.

Have you any experience of these trees? And also how far away from the fence should i plant these - will a meter be sufficient?

Thanks

 

[Symptoms]

dog - good you've considered 'natives'.

Hornbeam will grow quite big but will look good and produce lime green coloured 'fruit' clusters (nuts/seeds) which the birds'll love (where I live - London border - large flocks of Green Parrots decend on my Hornbeam and noisely eat these ... great fun to watch).

The copper cherry's only value is in the leaf colour - like all these cherries the blossom looks great (usually for a couple of days) then it rains and you lose the lot all over the ground ... looks like wedding confetti. A good size for gardens.

Be careful with ash as they can get very big although they can be managed ... I've got 3 of these big bugga*s in my garden and I have to get the Tree Surgeons out every couple of years to control them. They also produce loads of seeds so expect lots & lots & lots of seedling sprouting all over the garden (and the neighbours and their neighbours and ...). Fast growing.

Consider Hawthorn - loads of berries great for birds (food & nesting). Also Hazel ... fast growning, nuts, catkins.

 

[deefadog]

Thanks so much for the detailed response! It's amazing how no one you know, know's bugga all about trees LoL.

Think i'll skip the ash, but will check out the Horthorn and Hazel! - fast growing is what i really want, so i can but cheap and see some nice results in a few years!

Are there trusted nationwide companies i could order from, or should i go local?

 

[ifatfirst]

As others have said, steer clear of silver birch and ash - much too big.

Fruit trees a good idea (WarPig)- Aldi had some at excellent price this week. Their trees are good quality and good value - lots growing in my garden.

Possibles:

Robinia 'Frisia' - lovely golden leaves: may get a bit big, but slowly.
Pyrus salicifolia 'Pendula' - weeping pear
Prunus 'Amanogawa' - flagpole cherry, neat column
Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea' blossom in winter, very cheering: may get a bit big, but can prune.
Hawthorn laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' - birds love them as Symptoms says.
Juniperus virginiana 'Skyrocket' narrow columnar, blue-green conifer
Whitebeam Sorbus Aria - may get a bit big, but can prune
Sorbus 'Hostii' (Sorbus 'Joseph Rock' often recommended, I found it very poor)
Laburnum anagyroides 'Pendulum' - poisonous, so not if children or horses.
Sorbus aucuparia - native Rowan, quick growing, may get a bit big, but can be "dealt with" quite successfully.

Could also try Philadelphus 'Virginal', Weigela 'Florida' or 'Bristol Ruby' - which, although strictly shrubs, can be trained into quite tall specimens.

I've tried all the above. Buy local, preferably from nursery not garden centre, so you can see the quality. Ask for a discount if you buy a few!
Would plant at least 1.5m from fence, further if poss. Enjoy.

 

[WarPig]

If your after a fast growing tree then Eucalyptus fits the bill.

Its also a tree that you can cut right back when it gets too big and it will happily regrow again, meaning you can keep it under control.

Im about to plant a Bramley cooking apple tree in my garden. Hope to be growing my own apple crumble puddings in a few years time

 

[ifatfirst]

Agree with WarPig, Eucalyptus grow really quickly and can be kept in trim. I've chopped them right down to the ground and about 8ft up the trunk and both have grown back well. Excellent for covering up the neighbours! But, if they get out of hand, can get enormous, and limbs can "drop off" without warning. The leaves fall in summer, extra job clearing them up.

Wish apple crumble hadn't been mentioned - I could just eat a portion!

 

[deefadog]

Thanks, this is really helpful!

Which Eucalyptus tree should get? and aren't they expensive? and are they green all year round? - that would be ideal! And i don't ind keeping them in check - sound perfect if in my budget

 

[ifatfirst]

The most frequent eucalyptus on sale is 'gunnii' (Cider Gum). It is very hardy, evergreen, coppices/pollards very well and relatively cheap. But it can grow enormous if neglected. Site it well away from your fence min 2m.

I bought 4 last year - 2 about 8ft tall £9.90 each and 2 about 4ft tall £4.95 each. The smaller ones are probably better because they establish a firmer root system in the ground before they get too tall. Taller ones can be pot bound and out of balance with too much top growth for the root growth. A smaller one will rapidly catch up and be far more stable.

There are loads of varieties - have a look on the internet on google images. However, many of the varieties will be a lot dearer and only available from specialist growers. Eucalyptus debeuzevillei (Jounama Snow Gum) has peeling bark and silvery-blue twigs and stems.

Smaller eucalyptus varieties include: coccifera, goniocalyx, gregsoniana, keybeanesis, neglecta, niphophila, parvifolia, pulverulenta, vernicosa.

Essentially, fast growers will be v big mature trees, smaller mature trees will be slower growing. Perhaps plant a smaller, expensive variety and a couple of cheap, fast growing ones eg gunnii. Then take out the bigger ones as the smaller ones fill out.

 

[Symptoms]

Eucalyptus, none native so won't support wildlife as well as native trees. This will turn into a PROBLEM tree if not managed (for all time!).

 

[ifatfirst]

Agree fully with Symptoms re wildlife and the major, lifelong work associated with Eucalyptus. For a plot of your size I'd avoid them, but it's your choice.

 

[deefadog]

Thankyou - yes those gunni's look perfect - as they will have leaf all year round!

http://www.amazon.com/Cider-Gum-Eucalyptus-Herb-Plant/dp/B001BW91GA

Looks stunning and a bit different!

Just checked and fences are 5ft, so 10ft would be the size i would be after, i will have to cut these back every year. I'll post a pic of the garden to show you what i am dealing with and hopefully you guyz can let me know where they can go?

The blue spots are where i would like to put the trees and these are 2 meters from fences. I'll mock up better pics later. does this look ok? Guess i'll have to find some bushes for closer to the fences to blend them in maybe?