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Which trees?

LastboatLastboat Posts: 61
in The potting shed

I’ve been offered three trees for my small/medium sized garden but I can’t decide on my final selection. I’ve managed to whittle the list down from nine to the following four. Has anyone got any of these in their garden and can offer sage advice - or photos? Which would you choose?! Any opinions or things to consider most welcomed. Based in Cambridge if that makes any difference (eg climate and soil conditions). Many thanks...

Which trees? 5 votes

Medlar (Mespilus germanica)
20% 1 vote
Mulberry (Morus nigra)
20% 1 vote
Pear (Pyrus cultivar)
40% 2 votes
Whitebeam (Sorbus aria)
20% 1 vote
«1

Posts

  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923
    medlars can get quite big if you don't keep them pruned, mulberries are similar (plus if you don't pick the berries they end up everywhere)
    pears can be kept quite small by picking a dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstock
    whitebeam are good for flower, berry and autumn colour
    But I would include Rowan if you could as well as they have a thinner , lighter canopy than whitebeam and still have the flowers, berries and autumn colour
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Just because l am nosy (!), can you tell us what the 5 were that you discounted? I'm aware that this may start a debate but l would like to know what they were and why you discounted them. Feel free to tell me to mind my own business   :)
  • LastboatLastboat Posts: 61
    edited October 2018
    Ha ha! Happy to divulge the five trees that didn't make the final list - don't mind a bit of debate at all. Feel free to change my mind!
    • Amelanchier (Amelanchier laevis) - I already have an Amelanchier Lamarckii
    • Dessert apple (Malus domestica)  - I already have a crab apple so fancied trying something completely different
    • Silver birch (Betula pendula) - I already have one of these
    • Snakebark maple (Acer davidii) - just preferred the other options
    • Walnut (Juglans regia) - I absolutely love Walnut trees but there are tree-nut allergies in the family. Plus it's probably too big - perhaps the Whitebeam would be too?
    Thanks for the advice, treehugger. Rowans weren't on offer, unfortunately, or I would have chosen it. I wondered if the Whitebeam was similar in any way. I don't mind pruning the trees to keep them manageable, as long as they're the type that can be. Argh! I need to decide by Friday... 

    Oh, just realised I've posted this in The Potting Shed category! How do I move it to Plants?!
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    You did well to discount the Wallnut as you say probably too big, also it is said that they inhibit the growth of anything else within their extensive root zone, so would be difficult to underplant.
    AB Still learning

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Thanks for the info, my nosiness is satisfied!  I can see why you went for the ones you did, l love an Amelanchier but if you already have one type... The one l might have gone for is the snakebark maple, but as you say, it's personal choice. I voted for the whitebeam, as treehugger says, you get a good season of interest.
    Actually, when l said my nosiness was satisfied , that wasn't quite true -  please let us know which ones you went for in the end !  :)  
  • LastboatLastboat Posts: 61
    Oh noooooo, maybe I should add the Snakebark Maple to the list?! I'm planting a tree for each of my three young kids, so thought I'd stick to a fruiting theme so they could enjoy picking/eating them. However, after passing a lovely sorbus down the road, I looked up the Whitebeam and was quite taken by it and thought it might be a nice contrast to my other trees. My eldest also really likes the look of it. But it's ruined my theme so now I'm utterly confused! I also considered going for the Amelanchier as it's a different type to my other one, beautiful (especially at the moment!) and a good size for a smallish garden. Oh, I don't know... Keep voting everyone!!!
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Oh, l'm sorry, l honestly didn't mean to make things difficult. Maybe just stick to the four, write the names on pieces of paper and draw three out like a raffle !  
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    I have a pair of pears, both are a good 8inches round the trunk now, and neither is over 8ft tall (totally unpruned) I have no idea how old or what they are as they came with the house. However I do think if you want pears you normally need two trees (there may be some self fertile ones out there I have not looked) Walnuts get huge, my Mother in law has a lovely one, you could easily mistake it for a large park oak, it doesn't seem to stop anything growing underneath it, but I understand that some plants are more sensitive than others.
  • LastboatLastboat Posts: 61
     :D pansyface! Thanks all for the useful comments and advice - much appreciated. 
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    It makes sense to have another apple so they can pollinate each other.  But you'll need to pick one that blooms at the same time.
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