About Trees – Page 11 – Gardeners Tips

Common Alder – Root and Branch Review

February 29, 2016 hortoris

A water loving tree that is comparatively short lived at about 150 years. It is fast growing and can often be found near river banks.

Key Features of the Common Alder

Latin name – Alnus glutinosa other common names Black Alder or European Alder
Height – 60-80 feet
Type of tree – deciduous
Leaves – Green, rounded, finely toothed alternate.
Flowers – Male reddish brown in drooping catkins; female on same tree solitary red
Fruit – Woody oval and cone like
Bark – Dark grey-brown and scaly when mature
Family – Betulacaea

Origins and Distribution of the Common Alder

Found throughout Europe and western Asia.
Now also grown in North Africa.

Uses and Attributes of the Common Alder

The wood can take on an attractive reddish colour when cut and it has been used for charcoal and gunpowder..
Many clogs have been made out of Alder.
The wood does not rot when immersed in water and has been used extensively for boats, water pipes and canal lock gates
Major parts of Venice are built on pilings made from Alder
The tree and bark in particular has several medical uses.

Gardeners Tips for the Common Alder

Common Alder is often used as a pioneering plant to re-establish woodlands, reclamation projects and abandoned farmlands.
Seedlings do not grow well in shady conditions and are seldom found in heavy woodlands.

Other types of Common Alder

Several forms of common alder exist including fastigiata, laciniata with stiffer habit, pyrimidalis with branches at an acute angle.
Alnus glutinosa Imperialis is attractive with deeply and finely cut leaves.
There are about 25 species of Alder in addition to glutinosa but few grow taller than the Common Alder.

Common Alder comments from elsewhere

Top photo ‘Lower Austria, districts Wien-Umgebung and Bruck/Leitha (Fischa-Auen, 177 m AMSL).
Fischa alluvial forests in so-called Feuchte Ebene (‘wet plain’) are dominated by black alder; Salix (S. alba featured here, the huge one in centre right) and Populus – which prevail in Danube river alluvial forests – are present but not dominant.
German name: Silber-Weide + Schwarz-Erle.’
‘Alder is the most common tree species in riparian forests, and it plays a crucial role in these stream- and loch-edge woodlands. As a deep-rooted species, it helps to maintain the soil in river banks and reduces the effects of erosion. Alder root systems which are exposed in the water give shelter to fish during times of high water flow, and provide a safe refuge from predators. Alder foliage provides shade which is beneficial to fish, including salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta), and its leaves, which are relatively quick to decompose in water, provide nutrients for invertebrates such as the larvae of caddisflies, stoneflies and water beetles. These in turn form part of the aquatic food web, and are eaten by larger organisms, including salmonid fish.’ read the full text on Trees for Life

Read about our series on British tree reviews with a bakers dozen fact sheets

Credits
“Schwarzerlenau/Alder forest – Salix alba + Alnus glutinosa (48Â°01′ N 16Â°30′ E)” by HermannFalkner/sokol CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

“Alder trees, Alnus glutinosa, on the northern bank of the Kinlochewe River near the south-eastern end of Loch Maree.” by Shandchem CC BY-ND 2.0

Yew – Root and Branch Review

February 29, 2016 hortoris

The slow growing Yew is one of the longest lived trees capable of living for thousands of years. Britains oldest Yew in Fortingall is believed to be over 3000+ years old.

Key Features of the Yew

Latin name – Taxus baccata other common names English Yew, European Yew or Common Yew
Height – up to 80 feet
Type of tree – Evergreen Conifer
Leaves – Flat sharp-pointed needles growing in a spiral around upright shoots
Flowers – Male spherical catkins beneath shoots, female tiny buds near shoot ends generally on separate trees
Fruit – Single seeds encased in a red berry
Bark – Grey-brown with scaly patches revealing purple-red bark underneath
Family – Taxacea

Origins and Distribution of the

Yews have survived for many thousands of years and have adapted to climate changes
Native to the UK, western, central and southern Europe and as far south as northwest Africa.

Uses and Attributes of the

All parts of the Yew are poisonous and should be treated with care. There are new compounds (taxol) being developed from the tree to fight cancer.
The wood is hard, elastic and resistant to water. It was used to make long bows.
The Yew is associated with folklore and is often found in churchyards.

Gardeners Tips for the Yew

The yew can be clipped or pruned into topiary and makes a good hedge or wind break. As it is slow growing it is easy to keep it within bounds.
Old trees can have a girth of 20-30 feet.
Will grow on dry chalky soils and in the shade.
Taxus boccata ‘Erecta’ is a columnar form worth growing in your garden.

Other types of Yew

Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ or the Irish Yew is one of over 100 cultivars and the several cultivars with yellow leaves are collectively known as “Golden Yew”.
Taxus brevifolia or the Pacific Yew is native to northwest America.

Yew comments from elsewhere

‘The Yew is considered to be the most potent tree for protection against evil, a means of connecting to your ancestors, a bringer of dreams and otherworld journeys and a symbol of the old magic. In hot weather it gives off a resinous vapour which shamans inhaled to gain visions. Yew wood was regarded as especially magical to the Celts, due to its connection with the dead and the ancestors which were deeply respected. Archaeologists have recently found well-preserved Yew wood carvings at ancient sites of springs and wells which were probably votive offerings. ‘read the full story on White Dragon

Read about our series on British tree reviews with a bakers dozen fact sheets

Credits
Yews, Stow on the Wold by 1967geezer CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 ‘A pair of yew trees flanking St Edward’s church door.’
Yew – Taxus baccata by lifeinthewild CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

English Oak Tree – Root and Branch Review

February 29, 2016 hortoris

Oak trees conjure up images of Robin Hood and mystical Oak forests. Britain has made good use of Oak trees down the centuries. ‘From little acorns great Oak trees grow’

Key Features of the English Oak

Latin name Quercus robur, other common names include Pendulate or Common Oak
Height 40m – 130 feet and can have a significant width and root spread
Type of tree – Most Oaks are deciduous, dictoyledons.
Leaves are green with irregular deep lobes. The shape of the leaf is atypical oak.
Flowers are on short stems and inconspicuous on the female and drooping catkins on the male. Both appear on the same tree.
Fruit is called an acorn and is an ovoid nut one third of which is held in a half enclosed cup.
Bark is pale grey with deep ridges.
Family Quercus

Origins and Distribution of the Oak

English Oak is widely distributed throughout Europe.
The tree features in Norse and Greek myth and was worshiped by Druids.

Uses and Commercial Attributes of the Oak

Mature Oaks play an important part in a forests eco-system. They provide food with the abundant supply of acorns and shelter for birds insects and squirrels.
The bark has a high tannin content and has been used for tanning leather for many centuries.
The timber has long been prized and built many of the ships upon which Britain built it’s seafaring prominence
Oak was also used in house building to provide long strong timbers that are still visible today in many tithe barns and old properties.
Smoked fish and meat is cured over Oak chippings to provide tasty oak smoked products.
Oaks are often planted in memoriam or to commemorate historic events.

Gardeners Tips for the Oak

Oaks are large trees and unsuitable for normal sized gardens. After about 8-10 years they are too large and can live 300+ years so they are not even beyond infancy before they bare too big.
Children love to germinate the acorns and it is quite easy. If you subsequently wish to plant the seedling in the wild ensure it is in a suitable environment like a mixed woodland, with appropriate permission.

Other Types of Oak and Species

The genus Quercus is currently divided into two subgenera, Quercus and Cyclobalanopsis.
Quercus ilex known as the Holm Oak or Holly Oak is the only evergreen Oak.
‘Fastigiata’ or Cypress Oak – The popular fastigiate oak grows to a large imposing tree with a narrow columnar habit.
‘Concordia’ or Golden Oak is a small very slow-growing tree with bright golden-yellow leaves. It eventually reaches 35â€™
‘Pendula’ Weeping Oak is a medium sized tree with pendulous branches, reaching up to 50â€™
‘Filicifolia’ Cut-leaved Oak
There are several hybrids including purple leaved and bi-coloured varieties.
Sessile oak has long stalks on the leaves and almost no stalk on the acorn

Oak Comments from Elsewhere

International Oak Society link says the Subgenus Quercus is further currently subdivided into sections Quercus (the white oaks), Protobalanus (the intermediate oaks), Lobatae (the red oaks) and Cerris (the taxonomic position of which is currently under review). They also retain a database of all named Oaks.
‘Whilst walking through the gardens at Kew today, and passing the extensive temperate oak collection along the riverside, I was reminded of the tropical acorns we found on a Kew expedition to Sarawak. These fruits look like acorns you might find on a walk in a British woodland but they are actually from the tropical rain forests of Borneo.’… Gemma Bramley Kew Gardens
‘Mighty oaks from little acorns grow’
The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest is a giant tree loved by many visitors. It has a waistline of 35 ft, a height of 52 feet and weighing an estimated 23 tons. It is about 800-1000 years old but only cutting it down and counting the rings will tell how old a tree really is.

British Oaks: A Concise Guide by Michael Tyler and Bob Farley from Amazon

Credits
Angel Oak by Christmas w/a K CC BY-SA 2.0
Oak Tree by MunstiSue CC BY-ND 2.0
Scottish acorns by PhylB CC BY-SA 2.0
“Oak leafs” by Peter Nijenhuis.CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Special Oaks

Sessile Oak or Durmast Oak has stalkless acorns growing direct from twigs. It is common in Europe where it permits light to reach the ground encouraging other flora. Quercus petraea
Cork Oak is native to Spain and Portugal where the bark is harvested every 8-10 years to produce cork for wine bottles. Quercus suber
The Turkish oak has long whiskery buds and a ‘mossy’ cup on the acorn.Quercus serris In USA the Turkey Oak is called Quercus laevis

Read about our series on British tree reviews with a bakers dozen fact sheets

Norway Spruce Root and Branch Review

Key Features of the Norway Spruce

Latin name Picea Abies other common names Christmas Tree
Height up to 150 feet 50m
Type of tree – Conifer
Leaves Short dark green needles
Flowers red male and dark red female on upright clusters
Fruit Cones are slender cylindrical and light brown. They hang down in a pendulous manner and have long jagged scales.
Bark Coppery pink when young turning purple/grey and cracking as it matures.
Family Picea

Origins and Distribution of the Norway Spruce

Widely grown through out Europe.
In USA the Norway Spruce is planted in the northeastern and Rocky Mountain states, as well as in southeastern Canada.

Uses and Commercial Attributes of the Norway Spruce

Norway Spruce is an important timber tree valued for long, strong and straight timber.
Norway Spruce is also grown for paper pulp and general carpentry.
Known for retaining it’s needles the Norway Spruce has long been a favourite Christmas tree first brought to the UK by Prince Albert in Victorian times.
Spruce are popular as ornamental trees admired for their evergreen, symmetrical, narrow-conic growth habit.
The scent of pine is redolent and natural oil can be made from the sap of this Spruce.
Norway spruce is used in the making of violins due to its lightness, flexibility, strength and tonal qualities

Gardeners Tips for the Norway Spruce

Trees grow quickly but a rooted Christmas tree can be planted out after Christmas and brought back the following year. Keep it well watered indoors if you plan to plant your tree.
Some of the best shaped Christmas Norwegian Spruce are the top few feet of a larger tree sawn down for the purpose.

Other types of Norway Spruce and key species

Siberian Spruce having cones about half the length of Norway spruce with smoothly rounded scales, and hairy shoots.
Trees hybridise successfully
Norway spruce is one of the most important species on the European Continent. More than 100 forms and varieties have been named.
* Picea glauca, White Spruce, Picea mariana, Black Spruce, Picea rubens, Red Spruce are all part of the Picea family.

Norway Spruce comments from elsewhere

From the National Christmas Tree Federation ‘For Christmas trees, overall color of Norway spruce is fair to excellent, but needle retention is considered poor unless the trees are cut fresh and kept properly watered. Growth during the first 10 years after field planting is relatively slow and 8 to 11 years are required to grow a 6-7 foot tree.’

Above in the public domain because its copyright has expired

Read about our series on British tree reviews with a bakers dozen fact sheets

Credits
“Norway Spruce by friendsofmountauburn, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Norway Spruce Cones by wolfnowl CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
“Norway Spruce plantation by The Heartwood CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Juniper – Root and Branch Review

February 28, 2016 hortoris

Best known in our household for flavouring gin the Juniper and it’s berries are multi-talented

Key Features of the Juniper.

Latin name Juniperus communis other common names Rocky mountain juniper
Height up to 20 feet old trees can have a wide spread
Type of tree – evergreen conifer
Leaves – Short prickly blue-green needles growing in whorls of three
Flowers male yellow and female green on separate trees
Fruit spherical fleshy berries taking 3 years to ripen from green to black
Bark grey-brown
Family Cypress family

Origins and Distribution of the Juniper .

Wide geographic spread in the northern hemisphere.
Prominent in USA, Canada, Europe and Japan.

Uses and Attributes of the Juniper .

The berries are used in cooking and to flavour gin.
The wood and branches give off a nice scent when burnt and are used in some smokeries to preserve meat.
As dwarf conifers and small shrubs they are very popular in gardens.
There are many documented medicinal uses. Tradition says the berries were used to end pregnancies.

Gardeners Tips for the Juniper .

Often confused with trees from the cedar family. The Red Cedar is a juniper virginiana but junipers are not from the Cedar family.
Junipers are very useful evergreens for use in rockeries and in providing winter interest in the garden.
Berries take 3 years and trees need a male and female so do not expect a big crop in the garden.

Other types of Juniper and key species

There are over 50 species of Juniper with varying habits.
Juniper chinensis, Juniper virginiana Juniper squamata are available as many cultivars.
Juniperus chinensis the Chinese juniper variety â€˜Blue Pointâ€™ has silvery-blue leaves
Creeping Juniper is low growing prostrate form of Juniper with gray-green foliage.

Juniper comments from elsewhere

In North America, the Micmac and Malecite Indians, native to the maritime provinces of Canada, used Juniperus communis for sprains, wounds, tuberculosis, ulcers both internal and external, consumption, and rheumatism. Their general belief was that the juniper hardened the body and made it better at fighting off illness. read more on planet botanica.
Juniper, an important understorey shrub or small tree in the Caledonian Forest, has declined recently and is now the subject of conservation concern. Common juniper has the largest geographic range of any woody plant in the world. It is circumboreal in distribution. Trees for Life
Juniper is often the first bonsai ever owned by a novice, due to its massive success in the mallsai market. The Juniper is well known and appreciated by all bonsai growers. Art of Bonsai

Read about our series on British tree reviews with a bakers dozen fact sheets

Credits
Juniper Tree, Valley of Fires by vambo25 CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Common Juniper by bottomdollar99730 CC BY 2.0

Cultivating Japanese Maples -Acer

February 28, 2016 hortoris

Acer palmatum dissectum atropurpureum

Acer is the genus for a range of trees that includes the Sycamore and some of the loveliest foliage trees for your garden.
palmatum the species name refers to the hand shaped leaves
dissectum or variety name reflects how the feathery leaves are finely separated and deeply cut or fringed
atropurpureum is the colour of deep purple leaves that turn bright red in autumn
Japanese Maple is a generic name for a range of Acers which have this semblance of age and dignity even when the trees are small and relatively young.

Hints on Cultivation

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Cedar of Lebanon – Root and Branch Review

February 28, 2016 hortoris

Cedar of Lebanon

In the eighteenth century Cedar of Lebanon became the fashionable tree to plant in gardens and estates of stately homes.

Key Features of the Cedar of Lebanon

Latin name – Cedrus libani
Height – up to 130 feet wide spreading – slow growing & long lived
Type of tree – evergreen conifer
Leaves – Grey-blue to dark green needles growing in whorls on side shoots and singly on main shoots.
Flowers – Male yellow-brown, female larger, (6″) bright green with purple tinge
Fruit – Erect barrel shaped cones of grey-green turning to purpleish brown
Bark – Red-browns with shallow fissures
Family – Pinacea

Origins and Distribution of the Cedar of Lebanon

Natural habitat Syria, Tarsus mountains and Mount Lebanon.
Examples of the tree are mentioned in several books of the bible.

Uses and Attributes of the Cedar of Lebanon

Used by the Egyptians and Phonecians for building ships.
The tree is the national symbol of Lebanon and features on the national flag.
Cedar wood is a beautiful color and is used in cladding due to it’s hardness, exquisite fragrance and resistance to insects

Gardeners Tips for the Cedar of Lebanon

During the first 30-50 years of it’s life the Cedar of Lebanon grows in a conical shape. It then starts to develop the magestic and distinctive levels like plates of foliage.
One theory is that the branch shape is determined by heavy mountain snow that weighs the branches down.
Cedrus libani Sargentii has a short trunk weeping branches and is ideal for the rock garden.

Other types of Cedar of Lebanon

Cedrus libani subsp. libani – grows in Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, northwest Jordan, western Syria, and south central Turkey.
Turkish cedar or Taurus cedar Cedrus libani subsp. stenocoma is from Turkey.
Look out for the slow growing Golden Dwarf Cedrus libani Aurea Prostrata

Cedar of Lebanon comments from elsewhere

‘The Forest of the Cedars of God’ is a World Heritage Site of old Cedrus libani.
Throughout history, cedar wood, and such byproducts as cedar oil, have proven to be worth far more money than living trees, however beautiful they were. At the time of Gilgamesh, Egypt has already cut (without replanting) large amounts of cedar for ship construction and for export. They continued the same tradition. Cedar cutting prevailed under various administrations, up through the time of the Ottomans. They finished off most of the remaining forests by using cedar wood as fuel for railway engines. They generally bypassed more easily obtainable oak wood, since cedar (because of its oil content) burned much better. The presently remaining cedar groves were spared mainly because their regions were relatively difficult to reach. Cedrus Libani has been famous in Lebanon since early written history. read more on Cedar of Lebanon info site

Credits
Cedar of Lebanon, wilton House by 1967geezer CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Cedar of Lebanon, Warwick Castle Grounds by MichelleWalz CC BY 2.0

Trees Our Root and Branch Review

February 28, 2016 hortoris

The British have a fascination with trees be they humble or ‘Remarkable’,’Ancient’ or saplings, ‘Great’ or just plain good.

I have collected facts on a dozen tree species to discuss over the next couple of days. I have tried to stick to a set format and apologise if I have missed your own personal favourite.

The book covers are just a small selection of books on the topic of Trees. As always you can buy them from Amazon by clicking on the cover. …

Growing Kerria in a Cottage Garden

January 28, 2016 hortoris

Also known as the Japanese rose, Kerria Japonica it is a cottage-garden regular that grows dependably almost anywhere. The flowers are a distinctive single or double yellow flowers in April and May. The arching stems are thin and the leaves serrated.

Varieties

The modern AGM plant, Kerria japonica ‘Golden Guinea’, has very large, single flowers up to 2.5in across and bright green, attractively veined leaves.

Gardeners who are not sure about yellow may actually prefer the single form, Kerria ‘Simplex’, AGM.

A silver variegated form Kerria japonica ‘Picta’ has single flowers 1.25 – 2in across and it grows 5ft in height with creamy white margins on grey-green leaves. This is a low, spreading cultivar

Kerria japonica ‘Pleniflora’Â syn. ‘Flore Plena’ is a vigorous, upright form with double flowers. It grows to 10ft in height and has an AGM.

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Help with February Gardening Jobs

January 27, 2016 hortoris

There are numerous jobs to start in February and most gardeners will be very busy. Perhaps too busy to read this article. Still Gardeners Tips tries to help new and experienced gardeners with a series of tips and job lists that should save time in the long run.

Jobs for New Gardeners In February

Do not rush, the season hasn’t started and there is a lot of time to catch up.
Complete any hard landscaping and design changes that you do not want to be doing when the growing season starts in earnest.
Plot and plan, February is a great time to be sorting out your thoughts and getting all your ‘ducks in a row’ ( do not mix ducks with an ornamental garden they eat and fertilize the wrong things.)
Read what the experts will be doing – plants want to grow for beginners and experts alike.

Jobs for Expert Gardeners In February

Sow seeds of Broad Beans and Sweet Peas in a cold greenhouse or outdoors with some protection.
Sow hardy annual seeds in trays
February is the time to dig in any green manure that has over wintered.

Fruit

Prune outdoor vines, blackcurrants and gooseberries using off cuts as cuttings
If you are troubled with moss on tree trunks use lime wash to remove it.
Spray peaches against leaf curl

Vegetables

Order any seeds and sow early carrots, parsnips or parsley
Draw up soil around spring cabbages
Plant out autumn sown lettuce and broad beans

Flowers and Shrubs

Plant anemonies, ranuculus gladioli nd tiger lilies in groups where you want them to flower …
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