[Help] Which tree should I plant?

1066familyman · Apr 10, 2025

Surprised Sycamore is getting mentioned.

Yes, fast growing, but it's the woodland weed, and not great wildlife wise.

Jack Straw · Apr 10, 2025

How about;

Paulownia tomentosa | foxglove tree Trees/RHS

Find help & information on Paulownia tomentosa foxglove tree Trees from the RHS

www.rhs.org.uk

1066familyman · Apr 10, 2025

Not all Willows look sad by weeping either, btw.

The Salix family is well with checking out. Some of them are adored by ladybirds! A firm Gardeners friend, that'll take care of some of the aphids living in your Common Lime

1066familyman · Apr 10, 2025

Jack Straw said:
How about;

Paulownia tomentosa | foxglove tree Trees/RHS

Find help & information on Paulownia tomentosa foxglove tree Trees from the RHS

www.rhs.org.uk

We have one of those where I used to work. Unusual in that the foxglove like flowers come out before the huge leaves. Lovely tree!

It's quite open, though, even when in full leaf. Not the greatest as a screen.

1066familyman · Apr 10, 2025

I'd suggest Mimosa for looks alone, but I don't think it's going to do what you want.

Not native either, I don't think?

North of Robertsbridge · Apr 10, 2025

Cheshire Cat said:
Whatever you get, do NOT repeat NOT plant a Leylandi. They grow really quickly but are f@@@king horrible ugly thugs and impossible to keep manageable.

Agree, these b@st@rds should be notifiable like Japanese knotweed and illegal to own. When we bought our place there were around 200 metres of the things. Cost many thousands to get rid of

WATFORD zero · Apr 10, 2025

I like the look of Harry's laburnums, and I've always loved a silver birch. I have a large Ceanothus which friends bought me in a pot for my 40th. It's now f***ing huge and I have to take off big bits each year.

But my suggestion is an Acer Tegmentosum. I believe mine is a Manchurian striped, but I bought it many years ago in winter unlabelled from a Garden Centre. The reason I bought it was this bark

The leaves aren't the traditional acer shape

Except the flowers on mine are red, and the shape is

But mine doesn't go red, only green, then yellow.

I'm now thinking that I still don't know what I've got. Sorry :shrug:

Triggaaar · Apr 10, 2025

Jack Straw said:
Forget the Sycamore. Too big!

Definitely

Triggaaar · Apr 10, 2025

1066familyman said:
And poisonous seeds if Trig has pets it young kids around.

Stunning trees, though. One of my favourites!

Harry is trying to kill my family and dog!

Zeberdi · Apr 10, 2025

This is my Ceanothus I mentioned earlier- gets covered with sky blue flowers that attracts bees to it in the hundreds. It’s about 5 years old grown from a cutting and still growing. I just prune underneath around the trunk to encourage it into a tree shape. It makes a good screen.

This is Pyracantha which also can be trained to grow into great screening - again pruning around the trunk encourages height - I planted several along the boundary fences - they are prickly and stop cats climbing into the garden - birds love nesting in them and they get covered on berries which the Blackbirds and Thrushes love. Beautiful white blossom in late Spring

My Hawthorn (behind the Roses) also make wildlife friendly privacy screening. And fantastic for wildlife. They can also be pruned to grow into small/medium trees.

zeemeeuw · Apr 10, 2025

Some suggestions for Lime which I think is the Linden tree:

Triggaaar · Apr 10, 2025

Jack Straw said:
How about;

Paulownia tomentosa | foxglove tree Trees/RHS

Find help & information on Paulownia tomentosa foxglove tree Trees from the RHS

www.rhs.org.uk

Oo that looks nice. Full size in 10 years, so I won't have to wait forever for it to do its thing. Not a super long lifespan, but a fair bit longer than me

Cheshire Cat · Apr 10, 2025

I used to have a Ceanothus but the frost and snow killed it one winter, so it isn't completely hardy.

Superphil · Apr 10, 2025

Some useful stuff here, we’re looking to do something similar.

Plants for screening and privacy - The Big Plant Nursery

Plants have always been used to create shelter, offer privacy or screen out unwanted views, define boundaries and divide the space within. We are renowned for our range of large plants, specimen trees and instant screening solutions. Why wait years for something to grow when you could be...

www.thebigplantnursery.com

Weststander · Apr 10, 2025

1066familyman said:
Surprised Sycamore is getting mentioned.

Yes, fast growing, but it's the woodland weed, and not great wildlife wise.

They’re awful. Not a native of this neck of ‘the woods’ so far less good for ecosystems, they end up totally dominating and the horrendous sticky sap.

Blinkers · Apr 10, 2025

We planted a Davidia Involucrata (a.k.a. Handkerchief tree) in our garden. Only just started producing bracts on some branches after 15yrs. It’ll fit your bill for blocking neighbours but is deciduou, so won’t in the winter months. Gets pretty volumous otherwise. When we had it planted it was nicknamed ‘Stick Tree’ and looked pathetic. Doesn’t look it now! Going to be stunning when it fully ’flowers’.

Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana

hammondarboretum.org.uk

POSKETT AT THE VALLEY · Apr 10, 2025

Triggaaar said:
Definitely

Totally agree. Pain in the arse clearing up the seedlings.

wellquickwoody · Apr 10, 2025

AmexRuislip said:
Try some type of Acer, they're beautiful.

But are not keen on alkali soils, lifespan will be limited.

Jack Straw · Apr 10, 2025

WATFORD zero said:
But my suggestion is an Acer Tegmentosum. I believe mine is a Manchurian striped, but I bought it many years ago in winter unlabelled from a Garden Centre. The reason I bought it was this bark

View attachment 199828
The leaves aren't the traditional acer shape

View attachment 199829

Except the flowers on mine are red, and the shape is

View attachment 199830

But mine doesn't go red, only green, then yellow.

I'm now thinking that I still don't know what I've got. Sorry

My money is on Acer Davidii (Snake bark Maple).

The Grockle · Apr 11, 2025

I'd go for a himalayan birch. You'll get privacy but the canopy will still allow light pass. They are great for wildlife and you'll have a winter interest from their striking white bark

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[Help] Which tree should I plant?

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