Tree suggestions please?

8 years ago

At the bottom of my south facing garden I've a row of conifers. However I would like more trees in the garden but don't know what to choose. I had thought of silver birches add they are not too dense and block light from the grass but would like to hear other suggestions. I have a live of maples but all the taller varieties seem to be dense foliage. would really like a woodlands feel. Any suggestions please? It's also to create privacy from recently built properties overlooking my garden.

Featured Answer

PRO

Bespoke Joinery & Building/ Nottingham

8 years ago

I personally would go for one apple and one pear and create an orchard feel and benefit from the fruit, they give good colour and interest in summer, you also get the blossom and they don't go to mad, I've got to plant silver birch in my garden, a condition of the mad planners where I live, the house next to me had to do the same four or five years ago and now he has all on stopping them taking away the light. They look good in a woodland because that's where they belong, sorry ranting a little there, I would just be careful of how big your chosen trees will naturally want to be, be realistic as well as romantic, somewhere in the middle will be contentment

Comments (23)

PRO
Photo4me.com
8 years ago
Funny you said silver birches because that was my first thought when I saw the picture. Although they do leave a mess when autumn comes. A fully grown Acer griseum can be really nice and has a beautiful shade of red during the season change.
Jacky Ward
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you for replying quickly. do you think I should have just 1 specimen tree or a collection of different trees. bearing in mind I would still need access to cut conifers
Related Discussions
Suggestions please on making kitchen diner
Q
Comments (5)
I think you need to look at the whole house not just the ground floor. I can see why the bathroom on the GF exists because you have 4 beds and only 1 bathroom upstairs so someone installed the bathroom directly below using the same pipework etc., Do you really need that tiny bedroom upstairs at the front of the house? it would make a great en-suite to your master bedroom and balance your home better. You should speak to an estate agent to understand if this will impact the value of your home - personally I doubt it would as the room is very small. In the basement area with utility area, I would add a loo - great for kids in the garden or workmen. Then you could take down the wall between the dining room and kitchen. This is just my view but I am sure others will have better ideas. On your budget of £15k and if you are able to do some DIY you might be able to do it but I think it will be tight. If the budget were higher I would probably move the entire kitchen diner into the basement and take advantage of accessing the garden from that point too.
...See More
Privacy screen suggestions please... Climber, hedge, grasses?
Q
Comments (6)
Hi, I would recommend the Ivy Screens. I will let you read it but basically... - Non-invasive variety of Ivy used (so is very easy to maintain) - Easy to install with lightweight frames - Instant effect - Evergreen for year round cover - Narrow screens, ideal for small spaces - Environmentally friendly - Great wall cover - Fantastic security due to galvanised metal frame (with a ten year guarantee) I used one similarly for a client and also in my Grand Designs Room set last year. https://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/Ivy_Screens.html
...See More
Tree and plant suggestions?
Q
Comments (1)
Looks a lovely layout Amanda. If you liked to browse our website, we are instant landscape specialists and have instant hedges and large trees that will be just right for your project!
...See More
Living room design suggestions please
Q
Comments (10)
Hi, your ideas sound pretty much on point. On the alcove shelving I would remove all of them and add three shelves spaced out evenly and add nice doors to the bottom of the shelves - a builder or joiner could easily come up with some MDF doors for you. If you are looking to add depth I would suggest painting the alcoves in dark grey like Worsted from Farrow and Ball. Or you could paint the entire room in a lighter shade of grey. See the picture below for what I mean about the shelves and doors underneath. It will be a good idea to still keep some some shelves otherwise the walls could look a bit too bare. Your general layout seems fine, though I would draw out the sofa and chairs to scale on a floor plan just to be sure you will be able to fit everything in. For example it might be a better idea to have two armchairs side by side on one side of the fireplace and another sofa opposite, depending on the size. It really comes down to what you will be doing in the room, and who will be using it? If you have a lot of guests coming round I would add as much seating as possible but if the room is mainly to watch tv and relax you may prefer to less seating. If you can provide some dimensions I can draw up a plan with the seating to give you an idea. For your sofa and other bits of furniture Danetti is a good brand for Danish furniture. I'm not sure what are the dimensions of your sitting room but something like this L shaped sofa would give you that Skandi look. https://www.danetti.com/living-furniture/sofas/studio-3-seater-right-hand-fabric-sofa-with-chaise For the colour scheme and decor pieces keep them to a restricted neutral palette and add lots of texture using fluffy cushions and rugs as you mentioned. The key with Skandi look is to create a lot of layered lighting with lamps and candles, so you could add a lampshade on a side table with a floor lamp in the corner and even put some candles in your fireplace until you get the wood burner in. Hope this is useful for you :) Rukmini
...See More
erinsky2
8 years ago
Some well spaced skyrocket junipers can add a Tuscan look into your landscape less the maintainance of pruning and tidying.
Jacky Ward
Original Author
8 years ago
I like the sound of them. Will look them up thank you
PRO
Primrose
8 years ago
For Trees - you could have some beautiful Japanese Maples, Herbs and Vegetables, Exotic Palms, some complimentary Hedging, Fruit Trees, Exotic Bamboo, Roses, Ornamental Treesor even Bay Trees!
pannacotta
8 years ago
I think a group of Birch would look great against the hedge, Chinese birch have gorgeous bark and good autumn colour.

How wide is the space?
pannacotta
8 years ago
http://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/betula-albo-sinensis-fascination-tree-pp613
60hattie
8 years ago
We have a multi-stemmed birch - it looks marvellous and is effective in creating a woodland feel in a smaller space. Under planting with shade and partial-shade loving plants helps with the woodland feel.
Pam Pearman
8 years ago
Two trees that would give a dappled light and are suitable for smaller gardens are gledizia and rubinia. Now is a good time to visit an arboretum or try the RHS web site.
slo007
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I planted two of these recently in front of my hedging. I hope they look like the pictures...

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/flowers/all-other-seeds-and-plants/trees/katsura-tree/p94182TM
Andrew Millar
8 years ago
yeah,apples and pears!!lovely jubbly lol.love pear trees, would look great against your dark hedge.
gbarronfox
8 years ago
Try growing wild hops up through the conifers. They soften the look and turn a lovely red in autumn Gerry BF
gd11
8 years ago
Eucalyptus Gunni and you can keep it lopped to any size you want. I like the idea of apples and pears. Get something out of your planting. Birch are very messy and are not beautiful enough in my opinion. Think of colour, texture and something beautiful to look at. Sorry I can't give you any other ideas but blossom trees are beautiful and indeed messy but colourful messy!!!
gd11
8 years ago
Lilacs, attract butterflies with Buddleja, holly tree for Xmas and of course Baytree as somebody else said. The list is endless once you look on websites.
unamatrix0
8 years ago
I would go for a natural hedge which can incorporate all kinds of plants including apple ( or any other fruit ) tree, nut trees, birch and beech and elder, to name a few. Check out http://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/habitats/hedge.aspx which explains how to make the hedge and when, which will not only provide you with some eatables but will also attract wildlife and birds, bees and butterflies and and and... need I say more ! Conifers do almost nothing at all to attract wildlife and you can't eat it ! Wildlife hedges can also contain prickly plants for security such as hawthorn and you can underplant with woodland plants such as Enchanters Nightshade ( not to be confused with the other one ! ) and native bluebells and let the hedge or parts of the hedge be as tall as you like. Nurseries and garden centres sell bundles of what look like dried twigs ( which are your hedge ) so you can mix and match your own selection. Hope this gives food for thought ! Good luck.
User
8 years ago
It doesn't look such a big space for many trees, remember the potential spread and the fact that tree roots can spread 3 times the height of the tree. You have to consider the soil type as well, coniferous trees are quite acidic and may affect the soil around it. Is there any restrictions by the local council? Have a look at your local environment and see what trees are in other gardens. Copper beech can be kept trimmed to suitable height and can add colour. erinsky2's suggestion of Rocket Junipers sounds good or how about some fruit trees and get the benefit of the produce :-)
Jacky Ward
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you to every one that had commented. Its such a big decision I'm struggling to decide. When we moved into the property 14yrs ago there were fruiting trees in the garden as the area was originally an orchard. However the fruit produced was poor as trees were very old and had started to rot so we had to cut down pear, cherry apple and plum trees. I liked the silver birch due to dappled shade and silver bark but unsure due to size they can get to and "autumn mess". reluctant to have fruit trees again, but I do like the idea of a formal feel in the juniper skyrocket, bay trees etc. and the maples too. So thank you to all suggestions I'm down to either a Tuscan or Japanese theme!
pannacotta
8 years ago
Here is a smaller variety than Silver birch and with lovely white bark

http://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/betula-utilis-jacquemontii-snow-queen-multi-stem-tree-pp848
silyab53
8 years ago
I would also suggest Japanese Acer - red and black varieties - don't know much about gardens, but my red acer - a gift from my late friend's garden, by her son - looks stunning and, as my local nurseryman has the black variety I'll add a couple of those too, but I'll be keeping them all potted for now.

Does anyone from this clever Houzz community know where I can find 'Rosa Lilian Baylis', named after my relative in honour of her work in the world of Theatre, Ballet and Opera. I can't find it anywhere, and wanted to buy one for my Sister's 60th Birthday. Thanks, in hope! B
stranded
8 years ago
Morning Jacky, I am a keen gardener with an RHS course behind me and I was taught that looking for trees with 3 seasons of interest for a garden is always a good idea ie blossom in spring, pretty foliage in summer and autumn fruit. Something like Amelanchier lamarckii which gets to 10m high and 12m wide has pretty dainty blossom in spring delicate bronze foliage in summer and red orange leaves in autumn. The birds also love the purple black fruits which follow. Or a Malus 'John Downie' or Malus Floribunda both vigorous crab apple trees with a long season of interest.

I would probably not go for the Tuscan pillar conifers because they will act as pointers drawing your eye to the houses you are trying to screen.

Birch (Betula Utilis var Jacquemontii are beautiful however they will reach 15m or possibly consider weeping birch Betula Pendula "Youngii' which makes a dome shape and gets to 8m high and 10m wide.

Perhaps have a look at the RHS website which is very helpful.
Catherine Hounslow
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Mountain Ash. Cianothus tree variety which will provide privacy and clouds of pale blue flowers in spring . Small cherry trees. .
andrewchapman
8 years ago
The problem with trees is that they keep growing. They might be ideal to screen the house beyond for a few years, but either side of that they will be too big or too small. It also depends on the orientation of your garden. Tall trees might cast unwelcome shade.

Also consider that trees will create a shady, barren area beneath. Depending on their height and spread, it will not be possible to keep grass around their trunk.

It is more work, but an alternative is a pergola or similar structure with climbers. You could use roses,wisteria, laburnum, clematis etc.

Tree suggestions please?

Bespoke Joinery & Building/ Nottingham

Comments (23)

Photo4me.com

Jacky Ward
Original Author

Related Discussions

erinsky2

Jacky Ward
Original Author

Primrose

pannacotta

pannacotta

60hattie

Pam Pearman

slo007

Andrew Millar

gbarronfox

gd11

gd11

unamatrix0

User

Jacky Ward
Original Author

pannacotta

silyab53

stranded

Catherine Hounslow

andrewchapman

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Tree suggestions please?

Comments (23)

Jacky WardOriginal Author

Related Discussions

Jacky WardOriginal Author

Jacky WardOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Jacky Ward
Original Author

Jacky Ward
Original Author

Jacky Ward
Original Author