If you’re a gardener—and since you picked up this magazine I’m guessing you are—you probably get peppered with plant questions all the time. I know I do. Take Thanksgiving just this past year. My dad was looking for some trees that would “subtly block” his neighbors who had recently put a pool in their backyard. So in between doling out mashed potatoes and deciding if I wanted apple or pumpkin pie for dessert, I pulled out Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs from the nearby bookshelf to spark some suggestions. (That illustrated encyclopedia was a Christmas gift a few years back to help my dad make plant choices without my help. Its successfulness in doing so is still up for debate.) This same scenario takes place at summer picnics, children’s birthday parties, or even on planes when my seatmate asks what I do for a living. After I answer, it’s common to hear, “Wow, that’s so interesting. Listen, I have this spot where I need something …” Most of these inquiries center around trees too—and I get it. A tree is an investment with a capital “I.” Not only is a tree the single most expensive plant you will likely purchase for your landscape, but it is also the longest lived. Trees don’t like to be moved, they generally require a bit more effort to get established than a perennial or shrub, and they are usually the focal point of a specific area. For all of these reasons, everyone wants to choose the right tree.
How to Grow a Larch Tree (Larix decidua)
10.01.2024 - 13:56 / gardenersworld.com
European larch (Larix decidua) is a tall-growing conifer that is only suitable for large gardens and woodland planting. The larch is one of a very few types of deciduous conifer, which makes it look particularly handsome in spring when the new needles are bright green, and again in autumn when turning bright gold before falling. Many small cones are produced and often remain on the tree for a long period. The cones open to reveal seeds that are a popular food source for wildlife.
Larix decidua is native to the mountains of Central Europe and was introduced to Britain in the early 17th century. Its moderately fast growth has made it popular for forestry use with the resinous timber used to make fences, gates, garden furniture, sheds and garden buildings. However, because larches are affected by the disease Phytopthora ramorum, which affects a wide range of trees and shrubs, larch plantations have been cleared in the worst affected areas of the UK, notably in western regions.
How to grow larchPlant larch tree in a wild or woodland garden where there is plenty of room for it to grow. Ideally plant in autumn and water during long dry spells for the first two years.
Identifying European larchSlender needle-like leaves 2-4cm long are clustered along the branches. They are bright green when newly emerged in spring, maturing to mid-green, then eventually turning gold before falling in autumn. The small cones are green, pink and white when young, flat-topped and 3-4cm long. They are borne in profusion and mature to brown as the year advances, often remaining on the tree for months. Thick brownish-pink bark becomes deeply fissured as the tree matures.
Size, height and spreadLarch is moderately fast growing and can easily reach
How To Grow A Victoria Plum Tree (Prunus domestica)
The Victoria plum, Prunus domestica ‘Victoria’, is Britain’s best-known plum variety. It produces heavy crops of delicious, egg-shaped fruits, ideal for use in jams and chutneys, as well as eating straight from the tree.
How & When To Plant Ginger Root
Planting ginger is easy, but you have to do it properly and at the right time if you want to get a decent crop.
How to Grow a Lavender As a Tree
Learn how to grow a cute mini lavender tree that not only looks pretty but also smells lovely! Choose the right variety like Hidcote Blue or Munstead, find a sunny spot, and use well-draining soil with occasional watering. Give it a trim after blooming, and watch out for pests. Simple, right?
How to Grow Cherries
Cherries make a wonderful tree for all sizes of garden. Many varieties are attractive trees, bearing spring blossom, colourful fruit, interesting bark and leafy foliage that turns orange, red and yellow in autumn.
All About Plants at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024
The All About Plants category debuted in the Great Pavilion at RHS Chelsea 2022. This year, six gardens supported by Project Giving Back and designed in collaboration with a UK charity, will be on display. A grief garden, a skate park with a focus on edible planting, and a vibrant design that champions good gut health are just a snapshot of the gardens putting plants at the forefront of the design and keeping hard landscape at a minimum.
How to Grow and Care for Ironweed (Vernonia)
How to Grow and Care for Ironweed (Vernonia) Vernonia spp.
Show Gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024
The Main Avenue of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the heart of the iconic event. An extraordinary opportunity for talented newcomers and experienced designers alike to showcase innovation, creativity and the transformative power of a garden space in the heart of the city and watched by an audience of millions. Tom Massey is back after his 2023 Chelsea Flower Show success, this year partnering with Je Ahn, and familiar faces Ann-Marie Powell, Matthew Childs, Tom Stewart-Smith and Robert Myers are designing show gardens supported by Project Giving Back.
How to Prune Pear Trees – History and How to Grow
The pear grown in Britain is the European Pear which derives from Pyrus communis, native of the temperate parts of Europe and the western part of southern Asia as far as the Himalayas. In America some varieties are grown which are hybrids between the European Pear (as represented by ‘William’s Bon Chrdtien’, known in America as ‘Bartlett’) and Pyrus serotina, the Japanesesand pear.
Cherry Trees for the Home
Two main groups of cherries are cultivated for the merit of their fruit, the `sweet’, dessert (Prunus avium) and the `sour’, culinary (Prunus cerasus); a third group, the ‘Duke’ cherries, form an intermediate class. The sweets are subdivided into the ‘black’ and ‘white’ varieties. All fruiting cherries are hardy in the British Isles, though the blossom may be damaged by spring frosts.
How to Grow and Care for Freesia Flowers
How to Grow and Care for Freesia Flowers Freesia spp.
How to Grow and Care for a Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus)
Lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus radicans) is a popular house plant with an almost constant display of bright red, tubular flowers, that resemble lipsticks, against trailing, green foliage. Native to the rainforests of South East Asia, Aeschynanthus is an epiphytic plant, which means it doesn’t grow in the ground but instead is found hanging from tree branches, where it gets its moisture from rain water vapour. As a house plant in the UK, it grows well in a free-draining, peat-free potting mix.