Which Tree Should I Plant?

kentishchap · 17 October 2019 at 10:38AM

Hi

I am a complete novice and would greatly appreciate some ideas on type of tree I should invest in.

We live in a very busy "A" road that has traffic 24/7, our front garden is about 20 meters long. I am hoping to plant a tree that will be about 15 meters or so away from the house (should not impact light too much or hopefully damage house). It would be great if:
- We can get a tree that looks good for us and the hundreds to view when passing.
- Hopefully not dropping all its leaves and giving me a massive job every year..
- Low priority - hopefully helps restrict pollution and noise.

I thought about the Money tree, it is very slow growing but we are hoping to stay at the property for many years.

Any ideas? Thanks

Farway · 17 October 2019 at 1:49PM

Do you mean Monkey tree not Money tree?

Money tree is an indoor plant, Monkey tree is a monster and I certainly would not plant one in a front garden, OK if you live in a Stately Home of course

Would leaves be a real problem? All trees, even evergreens, shed leaves

A crab apple would be nice if you could just grin & bear the leaves once a year. There are loads of varieties with different ultimate heights and colours

The leaves would just rot down where they fall anyway, or pick up & compost them, or wait for a windy day & it's your neighbours problem:D

Davesnave · 17 October 2019 at 1:56PM

kentishchap wrote: »

- Hopefully not dropping all its leaves and giving me a massive job every year.....

I thought about the Money tree

Well, you can hope!

No idea what a 'Money Tree' is as there's nothing showing on a quick Google that would last 10 minutes of bad weather in a UK garden.

Me, I'd go for Crategus persimilis 'Prunifolia.' (Those Romans never got their plants muddled-up!)

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/89242/Crataegus-persimilis-Prunifolia/Details

kentishchap · 17 October 2019 at 2:29PM

Apologies - it was a type I meant Monkey Tree.

Are there reasons not to go for a Monkey tree? I was a little deterred due to the slow growth rate but do like the look of them.

Regarding leaves I dont actually mind the labour work of picking the leaves up, but was more concerned with trees that shed all their leaves over winter. As in opinion they look a bit ugly until spring when the leaves regrow.

Farway · 17 October 2019 at 3:57PM

kentishchap wrote: »

Apologies - it was a type I meant Monkey Tree.

Are there reasons not to go for a Monkey tree? I was a little deterred due to the slow growth rate but do like the look of them.

Although slow growing they will get huge and I mean HUGE ideal in a park. May not cause you problems for a while but subsequent buyers will curse you. It's a forest tree
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/monkey-puzzle/

Ultimate height Higher than 12 metres
Ultimate spread wider than 8 metres

Apodemus · 18 October 2019 at 7:09AM

Another vote for avoiding the monkeys! I don’t think i’ve ever seen one, in a domestic situation, where it has been appropriate.

I’d go for something native. Dave’s Crataegus is indeed a lovely tree, and a good suggestion, but bear in mind it is a hawthorn and it depends on your situation whether thorns are going to be a good thing!

There are some nice Rowan (Sorbus) cultivars around that give the same mix of all-season interest as the Crataegus in a similar sized-tree and without the thorns.

martinthebandit · 18 October 2019 at 8:20AM

A few or consider https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/03/british-trees-to-plant-in-your-garden/

Davesnave · 18 October 2019 at 8:25AM

Apodemus wrote: »

There are some nice Rowan (Sorbus) cultivars around that give the same mix of all-season interest as the Crataegus in a similar sized-tree and without the thorns.

My argument with Rowans is that I have never grown a good one. I've probably got half a dozen knocking around the place at present and they are too sparse.

In our previous garden, I planted a named variety ....except that it wasn't what the nursery said it was; just plain old Sorbus aucuparia. However, it was some years before I realised.:o

In the garden before that, I planted Sorbus vilmorinii and that did really well.....after we'd sold the house!

So, I'd say don't buy the bog standard Sorbus, which can be had for a few quid, but splash out on a named one with a RHS AGM: something like Sheerwater Seedling or Streetwise.

Plenty to consider here:

https://www.hillier.co.uk/trees/products/a-to-z/

I prefer the Whitebeams .

kentishchap · 18 October 2019 at 10:34AM

Thanks for the replied.

Never even heard of the trees mentioned, the site mentioned (https://www.hillier.co.uk/trees/products/a-to-z/) looks great and very detailed - I have a job for the weekend

andrewf75 · 18 October 2019 at 11:33AM

I'd probably also avoid the monkey puzzle, but at 15m away from the house I think you could get away with it if you really want one.

Cotoneaster Cornubia is a non-native alternatve to Hawthorn and has the advantage of being semi evergreen.

Davesnave · 18 October 2019 at 11:52AM

andrewf75 wrote: »

Cotoneaster Cornubia is a non-native alternatve to Hawthorn and has the advantage of being semi evergreen.

Yes, it's one of my go-to trees, or it can be kept smaller by pruning.

In my last garden, the berries persisted till the Redwings had them in early winter. They were a little messy, but there was a bonus in the fact that the birds left 'presents,' which would turn into hollies and other useful plants!

Which Tree Should I Plant?

Comments

Categories

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free