Thanks Ive added 3 tons of rotted manure to the beds, I love the look of rowans but i'd like variety too and I really like the look of multi stem trees. I plan on having bulbs and evergreen shrubs as well.
You're saying you want trees that stay 'relatively small' but don't forget that many trees which aren't technically 'small', have lighter canopies, which makes a huge difference. I've just posted a photo on another thread for Ergates, of a multi stemmed birch in a garden near me. They can be stunning. It's not a great pic, but it might give you an idea.
Possibly more than that on the ones I've seen - at least 6 metres anyway, but they take a while to get to that sort of size, so you might feel it's worthwhile
I know what you mean about the birches, but if you get the multi stemmed one, not one that's just been butchered from the other end, it's entirely different It's the Himalayan birch [jacquemontii] that gets used for that - with the white bark.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
What ever you choose I echo the point about planting a smaller specimen and letting it mature in situ. It will establish much better and catch up with a larger one quickly, and be cheaper too!
A bit worried about the spread of malus from your comment- how wide is very wide (6m+)?
Could do if it’s happy! Maybe not quite, about 5mts. We went for a river bank walk last week and come across this Mountain Ash, i didn’t realise they grew that big. It’s a strange looking shape.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
> A bit worried about the spread of malus from your comment- how wide is very wide (6m+)?
The main branches are within a 2m radius (4m diameter). Anything that goes out of that area are thin shoots you can easily clip, at most once per year, generally every 2 or 3 years. The tree is very clever at adjusting to the available area of light.
I did a contract for clients with apple orchards and have multistem Malus Evereste in my aunt's garden. You can get one with the right rootstock, and easily prune the larger ones. The maximum spread even the larger ones generally sold for gardens grow to is 4.5 meters across in diameter. See below.
There are so many types of rowans @Lyn, as you know, and when they're happy - they can be huge, especially the native. Most garden settings don't have the perfect conditions - that one will though. Plenty of flowing water. Not all of them are so shapely though. I've seen some horrors, but mostly on hills. As ever, any tree will respond to the climate and conditions. It's always a shame if they have to be 'constrained' in any way, especially when it's a specimen tree.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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Ive added 3 tons of rotted manure to the beds, I love the look of rowans but i'd like variety too and I really like the look of multi stem trees.
I plan on having bulbs and evergreen shrubs as well.
I've just posted a photo on another thread for Ergates, of a multi stemmed birch in a garden near me. They can be stunning. It's not a great pic, but it might give you an idea.
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1059802/is-my-tree-going-to-die-anything-i-can-do-for-it#latest
M. Evereste get very, very wide if it's happy. Beautiful tree though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
A bit worried about the spread of malus from your comment- how wide is very wide (6m+)?
I know what you mean about the birches, but if you get the multi stemmed one, not one that's just been butchered from the other end, it's entirely different
It's the Himalayan birch [jacquemontii] that gets used for that - with the white bark.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
https://www.primrose.co.uk/-p-68469.html
And I love the dramatic Sorbus Autumn Spire.
https://www.mailordertrees.co.uk/products/sorbus-autumn-spire-rowan-tree
We went for a river bank walk last week and come across this Mountain Ash,
i didn’t realise they grew that big. It’s a strange looking shape.
The main branches are within a 2m radius (4m diameter). Anything that goes out of that area are thin shoots you can easily clip, at most once per year, generally every 2 or 3 years. The tree is very clever at adjusting to the available area of light.
I did a contract for clients with apple orchards and have multistem Malus Evereste in my aunt's garden. You can get one with the right rootstock, and easily prune the larger ones. The maximum spread even the larger ones generally sold for gardens grow to is 4.5 meters across in diameter. See below.
https://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/articles/planting-and-growing/fruit-tree-spacing-guide
Not all of them are so shapely though. I've seen some horrors, but mostly on hills.
As ever, any tree will respond to the climate and conditions. It's always a shame if they have to be 'constrained' in any way, especially when it's a specimen tree.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...