Salix Integra Flamingo Roots and Planting Near House
Newtogardening8
Posts: 5
in Plants
hello
new to this brilliant forum.
just planted a salix integra flamingo (standard shape, looks grafted) in our front garden... my neighbour has just popped outside the door with concerns about whether it is suitable to plant near the house (semi detached).
does anyone have any advice about the root system of these trees. Photo attached for positioning!
Many thanks
0
Posts
Hello Ntg8
Not the largest root system on these ; your neighbours ought to more concerned about whats under their window .
Cannot see it clearly but looks like a black elder , (extensive root system) .
Sorry ; should read 'be more concerned' .
Thank you
As the tree is small the root system wasn't something I had considered! I guess one option is to dig it up and plant in a container. This seems like a lot of work for a small tree. I wanted something with seasonal interest for a bit of screening - and thought this would look pretty.
Yes the plant next door is a black elder, it is enormous - that was cut back down a metre or so in height just this week. I will let her know!
I have avoided things like wisteria as I was worried about roots.
My husband and I are complete novices so are just trying to plant these borders as best we can for low maintenance.
Your salix seems to have been planted very close to the border. How close?
Hello
it is 35 cm out from the fence, and 1 metre out from the house... idea being that as a standard it would slightly spill over the fence it gets taller. Do you think it is too close?
thanks
Same with the spotted laurel beside it!
am I going to spend the weekend repositioning?!
A large planter maybe a similar colour to your edging stones could look aesthetically pleasing ; probably give you more control over feeding & watering ,(Salix are notoriously thirsty plants) .*****
The Aucuba (spotted laurel) shouldn't be affected (in terms of light) by the large cherry tree on the extreme right of your photograph ; they can be pruned to a required size as and when needed .
***** These dwarf willows can attain dimensions of around 6 to 8 feet across , but regular pruning controls them and can enhance the colour of the new growth . The species they're normally grafted onto can be vigorous (in terms of root growth) ; maybe think about the planter idea ?
Thank you - I think we will go for the planter idea then, and have no worries about the roots causing any damage. Will plant further out from the fence too.
The border is south facing and very sunny so hopefully things will thrive under the cherry.
Thank you again for all of the advice.
If anyone knows of other plants that would suit a border like this, we would be grateful for recommendations. i have stuck in a couple of hebes and a pittosporum.
I think lavender would be happy there, and a Salvia gregii and a Sedum spectabile .. The bees would love them, they're good in sunny spots and will bush out and help fill the bed but the roots won't be a problem.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.