One of the first and most valuable bits of information I came upon when starting in the industry was to Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place and at the Right Time.

This has stayed with me and is now more apparent than ever. So much of what we do as arborists is managing trees that were planted without the realisation of how big they would eventually become. Or the impact they would have on their surroundings, especially when planted close to built structures or in a small London back garden where space and light are vitally Important.

With proper thought and planning, the correct species or variety of tree could make all the difference between something that is admired and appreciated by all to a tree that causes repeated issues and eventually suffers the axe or is pruned to harshly. Certain species respond better to crown reductions and pruning works than others, so with some thought it is entirely possible to have larger trees in our landscapes that still contribute to the amenity of the area and still look like trees, rather than the ‘hat-stands’ we often see around London.

The large variety of trees available to us really do give plenty of options to select the correct tree for the location and to tick the boxes of what is required.[gdlr_frame type=”normal” align=”left” caption=”Magnolia Grandiflora Tree”] [gdlr_image_link type=”image” image_url=”https://tomboswelltree.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/little-gem.jpg” alt=”Magnolia Grandiflora Tree” link_url=”https://tomboswelltree.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/little-gem.jpg” width=”250px”][/gdlr_frame]

If you are after evergreen foliage, Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ is a great example of a smaller variety of a normally much larger tree and grows to about 25-30ft in the landscape.

A fantastic native tree is Crataegus monogyna ‘Alba Plena’ with stunning double white flowers and an eventual height of around 20ft.[gdlr_frame type=”normal” align=”right” caption=”Crataegus laevigata ‘Rosea Flore Pleno'”] [gdlr_image_link type=”image” image_url=”https://tomboswelltree.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/crataegus-main.jpg” alt=”Crataegus laevigata ‘Rosea Flore Pleno'” link_url=”https://tomboswelltree.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/crataegus-main.jpg” width=”300px”][/gdlr_frame]

Pleached trees are all the fashion at the moment as they take up very little space and can offer instant screening due to their well trained and narrow profiles. Species such as Hornbeams or Beech are well suited to this and native as well.

The time of year is crucially important to give new plantings the best start. Often a tree planted in the mid-summer can experience scorch or drought stress and this can really have an impact on the trees health and eventual lifespan. The ideal planting season in the UK is November to March. But with careful thought, species selection and site preparation this can be extended.

If you are looking to do some planting works in your garden or have any projects you would like to discuss with us, please give us a call on 020 7183 5611.