Tree Planting & Care

I’ve been working as a professional garden designer and presenter on BBC Garden Rescue for over 20 years, and choosing the right trees has always been the first element I consider in any new design. Get the tree right and everything else falls into place around it. The common fear is that trees are only […]

Planting a tree is one of the most rewarding things you can do in a garden. In over 20 years as a professional garden designer and presenter on the BBC’s Garden Rescue, I have planted hundreds of trees across all manner of spaces: tiny urban courtyards, sprawling country gardens, and everything in between. The single […]

This guide covers everything you need to know about topping trees, also known as crown reduction, pollarding, heading back, lopping, or simply pruning to restrict height. We’ll look at which trees respond brilliantly, which ones will just laugh at your efforts and grow back twice as fast, and why conifers are in a category entirely […]

Quick Answer: Moving Established Acer Trees Successfully The best time to move an established Acer is November through February, whilst the tree is dormant. Prune the root ball 6-8 weeks before moving by cutting around the tree with a spade to encourage fibrous root growth. Dig a root ball at least 40cm wide for every […]

The Flamingo tree (Salix integra ‘Hakuro-nishiki’) is one of the most popular small ornamental trees in British gardens, and it’s easy to see why. With its stunning variegated pink, white and green foliage that resembles flamingo feathers, compact size, and RHS Award of Merit for reliability, it’s the perfect choice for small gardens, patios, and […]

I don’t know of any gardener who likes cleaning up leaves, but in the autumn months, it is something that most gardeners need to tolerate. Our deciduous trees drop their leaves each autumn, providing a golden opportunity to create a soil improver by making leaf mould. Leaf mould compost is an excellent way to rid […]

If you’ve ever thought about growing fruit trees, you’ve likely heard about rootstocks. Rootstocks determine how big a tree gets and enable you to work out the ultimate growth of any tree. Rootstocks are the foundation of your tree’s growth and play a massive role in how your tree will behave over time. If you’re […]

Living Christmas trees have long symbolised life, renewal, and resilience, not to mention yuletide cheer! Often accompanied by mince pies, presents and celebrations, the Christmas tree signifies that Christmas is here! Their evergreen foliage symbolises ‘eternal life’ and dates back to ancient European traditions, in which people adorned their homes with greenery during winter solstice festivals. […]

As a beginner gardener, bare root planting can be a bit confusing. Usually, we tend to buy plants that are container-grown and in full leaf (not with their roots exposed, looking all sorry for themselves like the bare-root rose below). Bare roots are plants lifted and sold when they are dormant, usually in winter. This […]

When it comes to selecting trees for your garden or landscape, one crucial factor to consider is the rootstock size. The rootstock serves as the base or foundation onto which the desired tree variety, known as the scion, is grafted. Fruit trees and some ornamental trees are grafted to control their growth making them suitable […]