Plant a small tree in February
Anyone with outdoor space (no matter how small) can offer nature a bit of help, and February is a great time to plant a small flowering tree. The right tree will bring you spring blossom, colourful fruit and
beautiful autumn leaves, as well as the opportunity to see more wildlife in your garden. A tree doesn’t have to be big or cost a lot to offer valuable food for insects and birds, and to give birds protection from predators and maybe even somewhere to nest. Many small trees are available online or at Rocky Mountain Nursery for around £30. Below are a few of my favourites – they all stay small and offer interest for both you and wildlife all year round.
Amelanchier ‘Ballerina’ (June Berry) – beautiful delicate white flowers in April, followed by purple berries which are irresistible to birds. The leaves turn a beautiful orange in autumn. These leaves are also small and not densely packed, meaning it doesn’t block out much light from plants underneath, or to your house.
Malus ‘Evereste’ (Crab apple) – There are lots of brilliant small crab apples. ‘Evereste’ has red buds which turn into abundant white flowers, and red fruits which are so numerous that even as the birds eat them, plenty hang on all the way through winter adding much needed cheer to your garden.
Sorbus aucuparia (Mountain Ash) – There are lots of ornamental varieties of the native mountain ash, with red, orange, pink or white trusses of small berries in the late summer. The early summer flowers arestunning and great for insects, and the berries are valuable food for birds later in the year. These trees
tend to be quite upright in form, great for a small space.
Cotoneaster hybridus ‘Pendulus’ (Weeping cotoneaster) This cotoneaster is very easy to grow, forms a lovely arching shape and is evergreen. The masses of white flowers are often humming with bees and hoverflies in the spring, and covered in red berries in winter, offering food for the birds.
Happy Planting, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me through my website below.
Kirsty Dougall. Gardener, Garden designer and Landscape Architect
https://www.kdlandscapearchitecture.co.uk/
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