new tree

plant pauper

Hi all,

I would like to plant a new tree which is taller than the surrounding Rowans but not 30m high.

I had considered a Betula pendula youngii for it's graceful shape and light canopy. It will be replacing a weeping willow which has been grown on a rootstock and now I spend way too long lopping off stupid big long bits that grow out of the top. Would I be replacing one ghastly tree with another? I want something that I can put in and leave to get on with it.

It will be in full sun and reasonable soil. 

Any and all input welcome.

Thanks.

BobTheGardener

I'd be very careful with that one.  If you use google images, you'll see a HUGE variation in growth habit and many of them are the antithesis of 'graceful shape and light canopy"!  This one looks like something out of a Quatermass film (4th pic down):

http://www.jayceenewman.com/new-arrivals/2013/8/14/new-summer-finds

 

plant pauper

OH NO!!!! Thanks Bob! Not much lightness or grace going on there! Back to the drawing board.

I have a large garden but this is for outside the kitchen window and maybe twenty feet away. That would be like a jungle and block the view completely.

What do you think about a slightly taller version? Can you suggest anything?

BobTheGardener

There are a lot of other Betulas which may suit you including multi-stemmed ones.  I also love their generally light and open canopy.  Have a browse through the Hillier site where you might get some inspiration - start with the designer's guide:

http://www.hilliertrees.co.uk/

plant pauper

I've looked at them all, particularly the jacquemontii and I thought the youngii was gorgeous. Would I be right that the multistemmed might have less mature height or does it not work that way? I like the look of the pendulas.

Dovefromabove

And sadly the multi-stemmed Betulas are usually considerably more expensive than a single stemmed tree as they take longer to produce

plant pauper

I'm wide awake and paying attention. I had read about the shifty practice of more than one plant in the pot. My local tree guy has quite a good reputation.

Presumably then, if they get too tall, you could cut them down again; coppice them.

I've looked at some of the prices Dove. Luckily my hair is already curly!!! As it's only one I suppose it's not so bad. I'll get the smallest one.  Tiny tiny tiny....

My main concern is not getting a big solid lump of green blocking the view.

plant pauper

It still looks like a big green hairy hedge monster! There's only one thing that scares me and it's not a tree Bb. 

I'd rather the cover was higher up. I'm back to the start (many months ago) which is the multi stemmed jacquemontii. It would give more interest at eyeish levelish! 

plant pauper

I don't do shopping!  However, if I was to buy a jumper (which I might soon cos my boiler blew up on Friday), I would like it to be fit for purpose.

A tree is for life not just for Christmas and if you think I'm going out in ten years time, in my brand new jumper only ten years old to dig it up, you've another think coming!

 

Steve 309

Can you buy a maiden and prune it yourself?

Fairygirl

That's if you can find a suitable maiden Steve, and she doesn't mind being pruned....ooh errr missus ... 

Are you dead set on a Betula ppauper? Perhaps you could look at other options