Preferred Arboreal Selection by Experts
In the ongoing battle against climate change, trees play a vital role, acting as natural carbon sinks and providing habitats for a variety of wildlife. However, over the past decade, 1,000 ancient woods in Britain have been threatened by development, making tree planting more important than ever.
To encourage tree planting, campaigns such as The Queen's Green Canopy are being launched, encouraging people to plant trees in their gardens. For those seeking the perfect tree to add to their garden, experts have some recommendations based on various attributes.
Heat-Tolerant Trees are a popular choice for warm climates, thriving in hot, dry, or saline conditions. Examples include the Summer Chocolate Mimosa, Bracken's Brown Beauty Southern Magnolia, and Sumner Pecan. These trees offer attractive foliage, blooms, shade, and in the case of pecan, edible nuts.
Oak trees are another favourite due to their fast growth, long lifespan, symbolic value, and ability to support a vast range of wildlife. They provide dense summer shade yet open winter sunlight, making them functional for gardens.
The Holly is valued for its evergreen foliage that provides winter interest and privacy, symbolizing resilience. The Hazel tree is admired for its seasonal color change, early-season catkins that support pollinators, tasty nuts, and cultural associations.
For under-tree plantings, experts recommend natives and low-maintenance plants well-adapted to local conditions, such as California fescue grass or Coral Bells perennials. These plants thrive under oak trees without disturbing roots and add biodiversity and year-round interest.
Experts prioritize trees that combine climatic adaptability, beauty, wildlife support, and practical garden benefits like shade, privacy, and food production, tailored to the specific garden environment and design goals.
The beech tree is a favourite native tree of Dr Jamie Compton, the botanical adviser for our website. Trees like the Scots pine can work well in a garden if given enough space to grow. They provide sources of food and shelter for wildlife, and under the right conditions, can become a vibrant, glowing pink when the setting sun hits its deeply fissured, scaly bark.
Tony Kirkham, a plantsman and tree expert, favours the Metasequoia glyptostroboides, also known as the dawn redwood. Trees offer mental health benefits to people, making them a valuable addition to any garden.
With tree-planting season currently ongoing, now is the perfect time to consider adding one of these expert-recommended trees to your garden.
- Incorporating trees into one's home and garden can provide numerous benefits, as they act as natural carbon sinks, contribute to biodiversity, and offer mental health advantages.
- For individuals residing in warm climates, heat-tolerant trees like the Summer Chocolate Mimosa, Bracken's Brown Beauty Southern Magnolia, and Sumner Pecan are ideal choices due to their ability to thrive in hot, dry, or saline conditions.
- Oak trees are another popular option, praised for their rapid growth, long lifespan, symbolic value, and support for a wide variety of wildlife.
- The holly tree is valued for its evergreen foliage, which offers winter interest, privacy, and resilience, while the hazel tree is admired for its seasonal color change, pollinator support, edible nuts, and cultural associations.
- In addition to trees, experts suggest planting natives and low-maintenance plants, such as California fescue grass or Coral Bells perennials, under existing trees to enhance biodiversity, add year-round interest, and minimize soil disturbance.
