Planting trees hints and tips

In this new monthly gardening column, the team of horticulturalists at Simpsons Garden Centre will answer readers' questions, focus on seasonal gardening issues and offer advice to all green fingered readers - whether or not you know your pansies from your petunias!

This month, the team explains how even small city gardens can handle a tree or two and investigates the trees that will ensure your garden benefits from colour and structure throughout the year.

As the nights draw in and the weather turns, trees throughout the region put on a spectacular show with brilliant shades of burnt orange, ochre and blazing red evident throughout Inverness. Yet while established, older trees are preparing themselves to face the winter; autumn is actually the ideal time to plant new trees.

The soil in autumn is both moist and warm - a perfect environment for a young tree - allowing it to become established in its new ‘home’ very quickly. When spring comes around, the tree is strong and secure and can grow quite vigorously as the days get lighter and warmer.

So, what are the perfect trees for a small, urban garden?

No matter what the size of your garden, it is possible to plant at least three trees in order to give year-round interest and colour. There are many varieties that have been cultivated to suit the smaller garden. Crab apple trees are one of the best examples - they come in all different shapes and sizes and offer fantastic spring flowers along with striking foliage and an abundant array of brightly coloured berries in the autumn. Alternatively, you could also choose a snake bark maple, a snowy mespilus, a weeping cherry or, for an evergreen option, some varieties of cotoneaster and holly.

With the right selection of trees, you can give colour and interest to your garden throughout every season:
Spring
For spring flowers, plant species such as cherries, crab-apples and hawthorns will all give long-lasting blossoms.
Summer
Choose trees that have striking architectural foliage such as maples and ornamental cherries.
Autumn
The rowan tree and the faithful crab-apple provide beautiful displays of berries in the autumn months, and plants such as sweet gum, parrotia and many varieties of cherry tree have stunning leaves as the colours turn in September and October.
Winter
Interest can still be gained in the winter - even when the trees looks bare. Concentrate on trees with colourful barks such as a birch (betula jacquemontii) or cherry (prunus serrula).

The increasing popularity for 'grow-your-own' means that people are turning to trees that not only look nice, but work for them in producing an abundance of fruit. From Victoria Plum to Morello cherries and Conference pears to ballerina apple trees, even the smallest garden or patio garden can carry a fruit tree.

It’s vital that you have a check list of things to look out for when purchasing a tree:

1. Needs to be pest and disease free;
2. have an adequate and established root system
3. a strong and sturdy stem
4. a well-branched and strong framework

Finally, you need to ask how and where the tree has been grown and follow any planting advice for best results. Once planted, your tree only requires minimal attention to provide you with years of pleasure.