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Trees - age to cost ratio: best bang for buck?

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  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    @Fairygirl what level of difficulty are we looking at on a scale of 1-10?

    What I'm really looking to do with those two beech trees is to break up the horizontal lines of the cedar with some vertical elements. I thought about birch trees but they seem to get huge too (the neighbour has an enormous one that is leaning a lot!). I settled on the beech trees because I like the colours, summer and autumn, I like the fact they keep the leaves over winter and they appeared to be trainable, for want of a better word.

    I'd love to buy a couple of ready pleached beech trees but at £400 a pop there's no way that's happening!!
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    I've used mail order trees and never had a problem. Their packaging is excellent. Sadly a lot of trees out of stock but this one caught my eye 
    https://www.mailordertrees.co.uk/products/fagus-sylvatica-asplenifolia-fern-leaved-beech-tree?_pos=3&_sid=035f525ef&_ss=r
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Beech won't keep it's leaves over winter if grown as a tree though. It will if grown as a hedge - unless it's massive. 
    Do you mean level of difficulty in terms of pruning/pollarding? It wouldn't be desperately difficult. You just do it each year, taking all the branches back to the leader, but you'd wait until the tree has a bit of shape and maturity to it.
    The chap across from me does his field maple each year. It's been there decades. The junction of the main trunk, and the branches he takes out, is about ten feet high. It would be quite an intimidating tree if he didn't, as it would also block a fair bit of light and sun to his house. He didn't do it this year - not sure why, so it's been slow to colour up.
    We had one [ field maple] where we lived round the corner, but never needed to do anything to it. It was also mature, but it was in a north west aspect, so it didn't affect our light in any way.
    It was always beautiful at this time of year, until the new owners butchered it  :/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    @Fairygirl hmmmmm. I'm starting to second guess myself again now.

    Do you think I'm better off with a smaller tree? I'm struggling to find something that fits the bill but maybe Sorbus aucuparia 'Fastigiata' would be better. Our maybe I need to look at columnar shrubs where I can lift the skirt. I've got a pyracantha at the front that shapes quite well but I wouldn't want something as sharp and evil as that near the "doorway"
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    This is the "feel" I'm going for


    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think Sorbus would be better, personally.
    The canopy on rowans is lighter and airier too. Good autumn colour and the flowers and fruits of course. Very few problems with them too. 
    It would be more like the look you have in that pic.   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    @Fairygirl thanks as always!! Time to make another shortlist! 😃🤦🏽‍♂️
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
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