Tree advice
milewide191
Posts: 1
Hi, I would like to plant a nice looking tree for my little girl that can grow as she grows and that could be decorated at Halloween, Christmas etc. The tree would be about 15feet from our house so something that's roots would not interfere with the foundations, if possible I would like a tree that feeds the wildlife. We have a robin that visits us every year for the nearby trees next to the railway. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Posts
Hi milewild. A perfect tree to fit your criteria would be an Amelanchier. Flowers in Spring are followed by berries that birds find irresistible and the leaves take on a wonderful Autumn colour.
Hello milewide191
Have you considered one of these ?
https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/95564/Ilex-x-altaclerensis-Golden-King-(f-v)/Details
I've one in my front garden ;virtually spineless , steady growing , very decorative and especially good for wild birds as are all hollies . Imagine that lit up for Xmas !!
Silver birch is an excellent tree for attracting wildlife, second only to oak, which is way too slow and big for your situation, in numbers of fauna species known to be attracted to it. The roots are not invasive either. Other good choices would be the aforementioned ameliancher and if you are not on clay soil, than rowan .
I'd echo Amelanchier, Rowan (Sorbus - not whitebeam though - the mountain ash) or Silver Birch.
Rowans grow on clay up here Redwing (they're our National tree really
) so that isn't an issue. Dry soil is though - they need some decent moisture to do their best.
The berries are very attractive at this time of year, and of great benefit to birds. Some of the local rowans here have been glorious for weeks
Amelanchiers also have beautiful berries in autumn.
I too love Rowan and have several. The first one I planted 17years ago and it's at about 18 feet now. It's called Chinese Lace and I chose it because it has a very light canopy and I didn't want to lose any light in the kitchen. It doesn't berry as reliably as I'd like but I like the leaves.
I've always just planted "ordinary" ones since then and they thrive in my boggy soil.
The blackbirds go mad for them too.
The 'bog' standard ones (excuse the pun!) are the best for berrying.
The blackies do indeed love them ppauper, and there was a female on that tree a few days later stuffing her face when I went shopping. The tree's outside my local Co-op
Round my plot it's cotoneaster city, with the amount of their berries they consume and 'leave behind' - if you know what I mean