British trees have turned the most dramatic shades of yellow, orange and red as autumn marches on.
Here’s a simple explanation about how leaves change colour.
This is a great time for planting trees. If you spot a tree that you’d love in your garden why not take a picture or find out the name then pop out to buy one from your local nursery. Many trees are available as bare root specimens in autumn and winter which is the dormant season for deciduous trees.
Bare root trees have several advantages over container grown plants. They are lighter to carry, easier to plant and inexpensive to buy. In addition if you plant them now they will be well established by the time the warm weather returns in spring and they will grow away nicely then. There’s no need to buy huge trees, small vigorous plants grow quickly and give you a lovely tree in just a few years.
There’s no need to stick to the standard tree which has one straight trunk and a nicely formed head. In my opinion they are much more suited to a long driveway, a formal avenue or a park and they are often grown as street trees. In your own private garden a multi-stemmed tree or feathered tree will give you a much more characterful tree. What’s more they make much better supports for tree houses. So if you are hoping for children or grandchildren then it’s never to early to plan ahead and plant a tree or two with climbing and lots of fun in mind.
Have you seen any trees you like the look of this autumn?
I love that proverb! When we moved here 25 years ago we planted 10 sugar maple whips – the tallest was less than a meter. They are now huge trees and I am so glad we planted them as I love maples in all seasons, but the fall is the loveliest!
I think more people would plant trees if they realised how quickly a tiny whip will develop into a lovely tree and how inexpensive they are. You must have had a clear vision about how you wanted your garden to look Eliza.
Perhaps…I just knew I wanted to be surrounded by sugar maples! It is interesting to see how differently they grew depending on where they were planted, some are much larger than others. And we only lost one to being over shaded by an oak.
Love that proverb!
Me too. It’s no good looking back and wishing we just have to do what we can today.
New trees in, and 3 more waiting patiently for their spaces.
That’s brilliant Diana. Which trees are you planting?
We love Scots pines here. They don’t change colour and are slow growing but once they are established they are wonderfully sculptural and the salmon coloured bark is very distinctive.
Mr. Fairweather has been eying up a Sweetgum Liquid Amber but we can agree yet on where to put it.
The Scots Pine is beautiful and very hardy too. It’s worth taking the time to choose the right spot because it’s good to get it right first time.