trees

Many of our clients are concerned about screenage choices, so visit Arundel Arboretum if you’re looking for fast growing shrubs that will improve privacy. We have an excellent range of evergreen shrubs suitable for screenage – whether you are looking to screen a neighbouring property, replace existing trees and shrubs or just looking for something that is fast growing and will provide a degree of privacy for you Choosing an evergreen shrub will provide screenage all year round, and they can even act as a windbreak. Most evergreen shrubs require little maintenance to keep them looking good, so they are an excellent choice if time is a premium. Despite being evergreen, they will always shed their old foliage each year as the new growth starts to appear. When visiting Arundel Arboretum, we will be able to advise you on the best plants for your conditions and position of your garden. For example, if you live near the sea you will need to choose plants that can cope with the salt and wind. You also need to give consideration to the location of the planting position – will it be near a wall, building or pathway for instance? We have blogged about fast-growing shrubs for privacy before. This gives lots of useful information on things to consider and plant ideas. However, another plant that is worthy of consideration is: Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Snow White’ This evergreen shrub produces masses of stunning white flowers during the summer months. It has a pyramidal shape, with an eventual height of 5m. The leaves are deeply serrated around the edges. It can be pruned to keep its shape and height. Alternatively, it is an ideal choice to create an evergreen hedge. Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Snow White’ is classed as a reasonably hardy tree and should be able to withstand temperatures between -5 to -10. It will be happy in full sun in a good, well-drained soil. However, if you plant your tree in an exposed position or in adverse weather conditions it can get damaged. We would recommend providing shelter in cold areas. We have a good selection of Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Snow White’ in stock. Why not pop in and take a look? We have various sizes and forms to choose from and people always on hand to help.

This is a wonderful time of year where our deciduous trees continue to look good and are selling well. We have an excellent range in stock including the following: Betula (birch) Fagus (beech) Quercus (oak) Prunus (ornamental cherry) Crataegus (hawthorn) Sorbus (whitebeam) One deciduous tree that is looking good now and that we highly recommend is our Sorbus aria ‘Lutescens’.  This is a small to a medium growing tree. When young it tends to grow erect, but as it matures, it takes on a more spreading habit. The leaves emerge in spring with a silvery tinge to them, and both sides are covered in tiny hairs. As it moves into the summer months, it sheds the hairs on the upper side of the leaves. Their creamy-white, scented flowers are in abundance during April and May. The green berries ripen orange-red in the autumn. These are very popular with birds!  The leaves turn golden brown in the autumn, and this tree is one of the first to start to drop its leaves. Sorbus aria ‘Lutescens’ can be grown in full sun or partial shade in either a sheltered or exposed position. It has an overall height of approximately 8-12m and a spread of 4-8m. It can be a very popular tree to grow as it can tolerate wind, dry soils, heat and an alkaline soil. It is particularly happy on drained, chalk soils. Whilst it requires little maintenance once it has become established, it will still require some extra care and attention during the formative years of being established in your garden. Like all trees and shrubs, first-year aftercare is paramount to the success of your plants. If you are looking to buy a garden tree and feel this could be a wonderful addition to your garden, we have a good selection of Sorbus aria ‘Lutescens’ in stock now ranging from 7’ – 15’ in height. We look forward to showing you the range of trees we currently have. In the past, this tree has also proved popular to hire for weddings, which is great timing as we are entering the summer wedding season.

When it comes to choosing an evergreen tree that is very versatile then one to be considered is the Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’. Also known as the Christmas berry tree. Why choose a Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’? This variety is a highly ornamental evergreen tree that can be planted as a specimen or fast growing evergreen hedge. Its dark green leaves are a vibrant red when they first emerge in spring. Clusters of tiny white flowers emerge from pink buds in April\May. These are sometimes followed by bright red fruits later in the summer. Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ is easy to grow and will be happy in most soil types except heavy clay. It can be grown in full sun and partial shade, in an exposed or sheltered position. It is best to avoid full shade positions.  Bush, half-standard or standard? This plant comes in many forms – bush, half-standard and standard. A standard evergreen tree is an ideal choice for screenage and you have the added benefit of being able to plant underneath them too. Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ is also an ideal choice for hedging. Kept regularly trimmed, it will enhance the colour and encourage dense foliage. Trimming encourages the plant to put strength into the foliage rather than producing flowers. Planting Our planting guide will give you lots of information on how to plant your new purchase. If you have purchased a standard tree then follow this link. Dig the hole just slightly bigger than the pot is it coming out of. Remember to water it well once planted and continue to water – keeping the soil on the dry side of moist. Also, fertilise for the first season to help get it fully established. Pruning As a small evergreen shrub, it may not need to be pruned and can be left to its own devices and will eventually be a bushy shrub spreading to about 4m in all directions. If you have space and have grown it as a hedge this creates an impressive, informal specimen. However, if you do not have space or would like a more formal hedge or evergreen tree then they can be pruned once or twice a year to maintain its shape, size and tidiness. If you want to encourage new red growth for the following spring, you can prune more regularly. When to prune If you have established plants, it should not be pruned when it is dormant. At the beginning of the growing season (late March – April depending upon the weather conditions at the time) is the time to consider pruning when you can see the first lot of foliage has turned from red to green. Young plants should not be heavily pruned until they are well established, but you can trim untidy branches to keep your plants in shape. The last prune of the season should be by the end of August just in case of early frosts. Pruning much later could result in a semi bare hedge until the following spring. Aftercare The beauty of Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ is that they are very easy to keep and need little maintenance apart from pruning. An evergreen will naturally shed foliage, which you will need to clear to keep the ground tidy. This is an excellent all year-round plant. We have a good range of bush, half-standard and standard plants in stock. Our staff is always available to answer any questions you may have and will be delighted to assist you.