Tuesday, 3 August 2010

A guide to ready trained trees

We all know that growing your own produce in the garden can be enormously rewarding, however not all of us have the space to do so.


These ready trained trees are aesthetically pleasing and super space saving, often used in Victorian kitchen gardens. See descriptions below of some of the ready trained trees that we produce, using traditional methods that are very rarely used today and see our website for step by step advice on how to try it yourself.




Our ready trained fruit will be available to pre-order from mid August.





Espalier





A popular form that will grow against wires and looks lovely against a wall or used to divide a space. This traditional technique can be used for apples or pears. We also supply ornamental crab apple trees in espalier form

L'arcure

An unusual form, the traditional methods for which are almost lost. Perfect for screening or dividing up a space and suited to apples and pears. Coming soon to Ornamental Tree Nurseries catalogue.






Fan



A brilliant choice for cherries, plums, nectarines, peaches or quince that can also be used for apples, pears and damsons. As with espalier grown trees this form can be grown against wires and makes a good feature against a wall.





Step-over




Fantastic for children and ideal for bordering kitchen gardens or pathways. Apples and pears can be grown in these low growing T shaped forms.




Cordon





The single cordon can be grown upright as a pillar or planted at a diagonal angle. As with the other trained fruit wires are used to train against. This form is ideal for creating a screen or divider and gives the choice of lots of different varieties in a small space. Some of our single cordons even have 2 varieties on 1 tree. Ideal for confined spaces and suited to apples and pears.


U cordon




A very decorative form of apple or pear that results in a 'U' shaped tree. These can be grown against wires and as with espaliers and fans, make a great screen or garden divider. They look fabulous against a wall and will provide year round interest due to their beautiful forms.








Friday, 30 July 2010

Trees for bees

Many of us are aware that our buzzy friends are on the decline.
Here is a list of some of the very best trees and plants for bees. It is not exhaustive and any additional flowering trees or shrubs that you'd like to introduce to the garden will undoubtedly be of some help to the bee population or other wildlife. The varieties listed are of extra help to bees for differing reasons such as time of flowering, type or size of flower.

Berberis
Try 'Rose Glow', it produces orange flowers in May-July against red/purple foliage

Cotoneater
'cornubia' produces masses of white flowers in June-July which are wonderfully popular with bees

Cytisus
For evergreen cover think about Battandieri, it has upright racemes of yellow pineapple scented flowers that are much loved by bees, butterflies and other insects

Mahonia
'Hivernant' bright yellow, fragrant flowers from November to March

Malus - single flowering varieties

Prunus - single flowering varieties

Salix - catkins provide an early source of pollen and nectar
Others to consider are, ceanothus, eucryphia, lavandula and tilia
For more information about looking out for bees why not join BumblebeeTrust , helpthebees or helpsavebees on twitter