Trees are the backbone of the garden and both trees and shrubs give structure to the garden, when considering planting trees, it is important to give some thought to both positioning and type of trees.
When choosing trees take into consideration, the size and shape, whether or not they flower and if they have berries, also important is how attractive they are to wildlife. Trees such as hawthorn, whose flowers are good for bees, its berries are great for birds and when used as a hedge its thorny branches are almost impenetrable, so it is perfect for birds both nesting and sheltering.
Oak trees support more wildlife than any other tree, but of course are far too large for most gardens, however if you have a garden of a fair size next to open ground or on the edge of a field then it begs for an oak tree to be planted. If children are involved then there is much fun to be had, collecting acorns planting them up in pots, watching them grow to a small but sturdy size. Replanting the one of choice in your chosen spot and taking the others out into the countryside and planting them, where you can take the children each week with bottles of water, to water them until they are established. These trees will always be precious to your children, even when they are grown and have their own children, the memory of the time spent with you doing this will remain with them for ever. They will also have the knowledge that for hundreds of years, the acorns they planted as children will still be standing strong, and even when their children's children are grown up "their" tree/s will still be growing, and will be supporting an enormous amount of wildlife.
When planting trees think about where they are best sited, remember small saplings will grow into larger trees and some will grow much larger. imagine them at full size, will they overpower or shade the garden too much.
One of the prettiest trees is an alder, but it does need a damp spot to grow. They are often to be seen by the side of rivers, and at certain times of the year they display last years catkins, last years tiny brown cones and this years catkins also. Alders are a good size for a largish garden and are attractive to both birds and insects.
We have three yew trees in the garden and one of them is home to a robin who nests in the depths of its dark greenery each year.
Fruit trees are great in any type of garden, bees will benefit from the flowers and the fruit will be enjoyed not only by you but also wildlife to the garden. Our fruit trees, apples, plum, pear and cherry and crab apple trees (Malus) are enjoyed by several types of birds as well as deer, foxes and badgers. In the mid autumn we are visited by redwings and fieldfares who feast on the windfalls, I don't think that we would have these birds if we had no fruit trees. Blackbirds and thrushes will also eat the windfalls, while blue and great tits and blackbirds will eat the fruit while it is still on the trees.
The difference between a tree and a shrub is that a tree has one trunk and further up branches leading off it, whereas a shrub is multi- stemmed from the ground upward.
Given the chance many shrubs will grow to the size of small trees, for instance Cytissus Battandierii, known as the pineapple shrub. It has blue green leaves and upright racemes of the brightest yellow, wonderfully pineapple scented flowers, each one covered in tiny black beetles, which are very attractive to small insect eating birds.
Eucryphia Nymansensis "Nymansay" is another tall shrub, which if left will happily grow to at least sixteen feet high, and four feet across, in a columnar fashion. The whole shrub will be covered in large white flowers which bees find magnetisingly attractive.
Buddleias are excellent in a wildlife garden and are extremely attractive to butterflies, hence their other name of butterfly bush. They are also attractive to bees, moths and insects. They come in many colours and varying shades, colours include purple, mauve, violet, red, pink and even yellow. A few buddleias have small globe like flowers, but the majority of flowers are on long terminal panicles, of beautiful colours and are very fragrant. Plants can either be left to grow on year after year or can be cut back each February, surprisingly they will often make as much as six feet of growth in a season.
Cotoneaster is one of my favourite shrubs, in the spring it is covered in small white flowers beloved by bees and in the autumn bright red berries, which are loved by thrushes, blackbirds, and will also draw in redwings and fieldfares.
Wildlife gardens need trees and shrubs both coniferous and deciduous, these serve many purposes, most important is pleasure to both yourselves and wildlife. Think food, shelter, shade and for birds nest building also.
To be continued.
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