Buying a small garden tree.

Introduction:

. Based on my own experience as a gardener, these are a few practical points on buying a small garden tree in the Dublin area. When I say a small garden tree I mean a small tree suitable for a small space for an apartment verandah to a suburban garden . I will give my brief tree preferences and the definite not’s.

I see you on a weekend morning heading off in a an average family car ,like a Ford Focus ,Golf to make your purchase and bringing it home.

1. Body of speech.

2. Unsuitable Trees – Large trees, beech, horse chestnut .

3. Exotic trees (cordylines, gum ,Tree ferns.) Conifers especially Leylandii –one day you will turn away and when you turn back it will have blotted out the sun.It grows that fast.

4. All the Suitable trees have one thing in common They are all deciduous ( they lose their leaves and will define the seasons beautifully) .From the hopeful flowers of cherries , hawthorn , magnolia in spring ,into the summer calm of green leaves and shade of birches to the fireworks of autumn shown in the leaves of acers and mountain ash ,the jewelled berries of crab apples and the red haws of hawthorns . Then the year ends in the quiet scent of a winter flowering cherry .Prunus Autumnalis. Throughout the season remember there will be birds –the golden beaks of Blackbirds , the wings of finches , the rinsing ring of thrushes..

1. .Where to buy.

2. A.Multiples-Lidls, Homebase, Band Q’s, Woodies.

3. Garden centres-Newlands cross, Johnstown, Murphy and Wood Johnstown Road.

4. Nurseries-only for trade.

5. Marriage of garden centre-Nursery. Scalp and Blakes , Lusk.You buy in this establishment.This is the ideal place to buy.

6. Examine pot.

7. Rootball- a. too small in the pot.b. rootbound.

8. Stem. Tree

9. Stake, tree tie and a bag of compost.

10. Loading the tree into your car.-Get help from the staff that is what they are there for.

11. Driving home. Unload.