Would you like another evergreen or a deciduous tree? If it's a large elegant deciduous tree bear in mind the amount of leaf clearing in autumn. If it's close to the road you will have to keep that road clear of leaves.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Well that's the dilemma Busy Lizzie! Leaf clearing does seem like a menace but the fact that its only once a year and that I can compost the leaves makes it more appealing than the perpetual shade and blanket of acid needles which make it virtually impossible to grow anything beneath or around an evergreen. So a deciduous with a seasonal personality is my preferred option at the moment.
I am inspired by both the silver birch and maple ideas. The birch offers a great appeal if you give the trunks a bit of attention - washing and keeping white, and the acer is one I have not come across... choices choices. Two great suppliers too! thanks!
Again, thanks all for your ideas. I have finally managed to upload a photo of the very sad looking patch of garden devoid of tree!
Thanks to chilli lover - on the opposite side of the driveway, out of the photo we have an ornamental cherry, so at the moment the maple or silver birch ideas are favourite. Plenty to do, including some work on renovating the driveway after years of falling needles!! Looking forward to some gardeing action - hopefully should be warm enough this weekend although very frosty here is Derbuyshire again this morning!!
Hi all, my first contribution to the blog. Thanks for the info on trees. We have just had our sloping garden, landscaped to launch us into gardening as a hobby. I am really thrilled to be able to walk around and see things spritting and developing. I have been contemplating planting a couple of birch trees at the top of the garden to screen our summer house from the field (a potential building site for houses) to give us a little privacy. Would the birches be fairly translucent through the branches as I wouldn't like to block out the light completely? Any suggestions would be welcome as I am a very keen but a relatively novice gardener. Also I planted a magnolia stellata in memory of my dear friend who passed away last year. I am so upset to find that unlike my stellata at the front which is full of buds this precious shrub has none and some of the branches look dead. Help! Many thanks
Welcome Super Gran. Silver birches give dappled shade and are quite light and airy. I don't think they would block out the light completely.
What sort of soil do you have? Most magnolias like soil a bit acid. I have alkali soil and I planted magnolia Leonard Messel which is very similar to stellata with pale pink flowers and will grow in an alkali soil. But it's a bit strange that you already have a stellata that's OK. They hate drying out in summer (unlikely last year!), they don't like cold winds and spring frosts can damage the flowers.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
If you go for birch I would suggest making sure they are one of the very narrow varieties. I have some, but have forgotten the name! Katsura makes a very nice subject as well - there's something elegant about it.
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Would you like another evergreen or a deciduous tree? If it's a large elegant deciduous tree bear in mind the amount of leaf clearing in autumn. If it's close to the road you will have to keep that road clear of leaves.
Posted once and lost it
Silver birch sounds lovely. There iis a cottage nearby that has a group of 3 with stunnoing white trunks
http://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/ornamental-trees-c18/birch-trees-betula-trees-c32/betula-utilis-jacquemontii-doorenbos-multistem-tree-p668
or
http://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/ornamental-trees-c18/birch-trees-betula-trees-c32/betula-utilis-jacquemontii-silver-shadow-tree-p49
Hope this helps.
Or what about an acer. The one here shows fantastic autumn colour.
http://www.scotplantsdirect.co.uk/acer-rubrum-canadian-maple-red-sunset-tree/prod_1638.html
I am inspired by both the silver birch and maple ideas. The birch offers a great appeal if you give the trunks a bit of attention - washing and keeping white, and the acer is one I have not come across... choices choices. Two great suppliers too! thanks!
I agree - lovely trees in the links!
How about ornamental cherry tree?
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22ornamental+cherry+trees%22&hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=a6wSUZnYEdOQhQf0nYC4Cw&ved=0CG0QsAQ&biw=1280&bih=874
http://www.cornishgardennurseries.net/page/ornamental_cherry_trees
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/3341800/On-the-spot-The-best-ornamental-Japanese-cherries.html
Janet
Again, thanks all for your ideas. I have finally managed to upload a photo of the very sad looking patch of garden devoid of tree!
Thanks to chilli lover - on the opposite side of the driveway, out of the photo we have an ornamental cherry, so at the moment the maple or silver birch ideas are favourite. Plenty to do, including some work on renovating the driveway after years of falling needles!! Looking forward to some gardeing action - hopefully should be warm enough this weekend although very frosty here is Derbuyshire again this morning!!
Hi all, my first contribution to the blog. Thanks for the info on trees. We have just had our sloping garden, landscaped to launch us into gardening as a hobby. I am really thrilled to be able to walk around and see things spritting and developing. I have been contemplating planting a couple of birch trees at the top of the garden to screen our summer house from the field (a potential building site for houses) to give us a little privacy. Would the birches be fairly translucent through the branches as I wouldn't like to block out the light completely? Any suggestions would be welcome as I am a very keen but a relatively novice gardener. Also I planted a magnolia stellata in memory of my dear friend who passed away last year. I am so upset to find that unlike my stellata at the front which is full of buds this precious shrub has none and some of the branches look dead. Help! Many thanks
Welcome Super Gran. Silver birches give dappled shade and are quite light and airy. I don't think they would block out the light completely.
What sort of soil do you have? Most magnolias like soil a bit acid. I have alkali soil and I planted magnolia Leonard Messel which is very similar to stellata with pale pink flowers and will grow in an alkali soil. But it's a bit strange that you already have a stellata that's OK. They hate drying out in summer (unlikely last year!), they don't like cold winds and spring frosts can damage the flowers.
If you go for birch I would suggest making sure they are one of the very narrow varieties. I have some, but have forgotten the name! Katsura makes a very nice subject as well - there's something elegant about it.