Beautiful Gardens Spring Edition 2020 | Page 49

How to PLANT A TREE FOR BARK AND FOLIAGE Betula ‘Snow Queen’ Betula ‘Snow Queen’ A beautiful, slow-growing birch tree with striking white bark and orange-yellow leaves in autumn. Grows to: 12-15m (H) Acer palmatum Japanese acers have elegant dissected leaves, in a variety of shades, that often change colour dramatically in autumn. Grows to: 3-4m (H) FOR FRUITS & BERRIES IDEAL FOR JUICING Apple ‘Scrumptious’ Apple ‘Scrumptious’ Deep-pink spring blossom and sweet pink-fleshed fruit make this self-fertile apple tree suitable for any garden. Grows to: 3-4m (H) Malus ‘Jelly King’ The best variety for making crab apple jelly, this tree also has beautiful pure white blossom that garden insects love. Grows to: 3-4m (H) 1. Before you start digging a hole, soak your tree in a plastic trug or bucket of water. 5. Remove the tree from the pot and place it in the hole, keeping the tree trunk upright. 2. Decide on the right spot, and dig a generous hole – it should be the same depth as the rootball. 6. Sprinkle a little Rootgrow Mycorrhizal Fungi around the roots for good root development. 3. Enrich the soil with a few scoops of Gro- Sure Farmyard Manure. 7. Re-fill the hole with soil, and firm the surface with your foot. 4. Using a cane, check that the rootball is level with the soil surface. 8. Water well and add a mulch to prevent weeds and help retain moisture. 1 5,6 2,3 7 4 8 TOP TIP Use crab apples from the garden to make a sweet, tangy jelly FOR SPRING BLOSSOM Malus toringo ‘Aros’ Prunus ‘Fragrant Cloud’ Malus toringo ‘Aros’ A colourful, dwarf crab apple that’s perfect for small gardens, with purple leaves and deep pink spring blossom. Grows to: 3m (H) Prunus ‘Beni-yutaka’ Delicate pink blossom and scarlet leaves in autumn make this Japanese flowering cherry tree an all-year-round winner. Grows to: 8-12m (H) Prunus ‘Fragrant Cloud’ A spectacular flowering cherry tree, with huge clusters of white frothy flowers in May and fiery orange leaves in autumn. Grows to: 8-12m (H) WAT C H T H E V I D EO O N O U R W E B S I T E BEAUTIFUL GARDENS/49