Let’s Talk Trees

Conrad McCormick offers his expert advice on the flowering trees you should aim to plant in your garden.

When planting a tree in the garden we’re generally looking at the long game! Most, unless incredibly fast growing, will take many years before they reach their full potential and have a strong visual impact in the garden. It should also be said that unless your garden is measured in acres rather than metres most speedy trees should be avoided as the majority will quickly outgrow the space available and can become a liability. I often think of an old proverb, supposedly Chinese in origin, that says ‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.’ Meaning that if you haven’t already taken the first step to do something great, then you should do so today. This also holds true with our arborescent plants, the longer you delay, the longer you’ll have to wait before you can rest under a floral canopy on a hot summer’s day.

Read more in the January issue…