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New build garden

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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited August 2023
    @Cleothecat Take a look at the Garden Design part of the forum and look at the thread titled 'What to do with this part of the garden'.  There are four Silver Birch trees and the poster is obviously struggling to think what is best to plant under them. This should be helpful.
    The only Birch that is slower growing is the multistemmed form. 
    I don't know if you have been given some poor advice and someone wanted to sell you more than you need. Sadly this does seem to be happening.

    Euonymous Silver Queen would work as it can cope with sun or shade. The Lavender is short lived say four years, by then it will be a scruffy plant if still alive and not affected by the tree canopy as it needs full sun. Then you will be facing a very different garden as the canopy starts to form, shade loving plants such as Geranium phaeum Lily Lovell would be one to consider.I wouldn't dismiss white such as Geranium Macrorrhizum White Ness. Phlaris is a thug but stunning with Birches.
    Good Luck with your new garden. Most posters on here are trying to help.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited August 2023


    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited August 2023






    Quote..."The only Birch that is slower growing is the multistemmed form."

    Sorry couldn't get above to work.

    Birches are all pretty fast.
    This  multistemmed one is about 10 years old...in a local garden.
    Beautiful but huge already.

    I cannot imagine a modern garden big enough to cope with masses of birches.
    Quote....." We’ve planted about 9 silver birch at the back of the border "

    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Lovely pic @Silver surfer  :)
    We have a fairly new estate here [approx 12 - 15 years old]  - about a mile or so away.  There's a nice area [triangle]  of grass where it meets the road into the estate, and the main road it's next to,  and there's a group of multi stem birches in it, as well as some cherry/plum trees along the edge of the road, with the usual mix of native hedging along the main road. The birches are already a decent size, but they have plenty of room between them to grow properly, as do the plums/cherries.
    The area is around 50 metres [possibly more] , by 30m x 40m, at a rough guess. It'll be nice when they've all matured, and there will still be grass in the middle.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited August 2023
     Oh dear that is huge.I belonged to a Gardening Club, one was planted in memory of a past member. If it gets that big it will be a big problem. After much advice the club together with HPS and Plant Heritage decided that multistemmed was best as growth would be slower. It will be far too close to the local community centre if that is how big it is going to get. Just shows even with alot of thought and advice it is still possible to get it wrong. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm wondering if the chalky soil will inhibit growth a bit. I'm not sure if they like it, but it's not something I have any experience of here. All clay - neutral to acidic, and plenty of rain, which they love as long as the drainage is ok of course.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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