| Trees can make or mar a garden. Too many of | | | | from ground level but other trees are often |
| them, or unsuitable kinds, can rob the garden of | | | | grown on a bare trunk and are known as |
| light and the soil of food and moisture, making it | | | | standards. |
| impossible to grow anything else well. But a few | | | | Once trees are planted they are likely to remain |
| well-placed and well-chosen trees can give a | | | | for a great many years, during which time no |
| garden distinction and provide welcome summer | | | | further deep cultivation can be carried out. Initial |
| shade. | | | | soil preparation should therefore be thorough. |
| Large trees, such as oak, elm, lime, poplar, beech, | | | | Planting holes must be of ample width and it is |
| willow, cedar, pine and fir, are only suitable for | | | | wise to drive a stout stake into the centre of |
| large gardens, but there are sometimes narrow, | | | | each hole. Plant so that the soil mark on the main |
| upright-stemmed or fastigiate forms of large | | | | trunk is about 1 in. below soil level. Firm the soil |
| trees that can be planted in quite small gardens. | | | | thoroughly around the roots and tie the main |
| Examples are the Dawyck Beech, fastigiate oak | | | | stem securely to the stake to prevent wind |
| and fastigiate Tulip Tree (lirioden-dron). The | | | | rocking. |
| Lombardy Poplar is a fastigiate form of the Black | | | | Even if trees are to be grown in grass, a |
| Poplar and its branches do not take up much | | | | cultivated circle at least 4 ft. in diameter should be |
| room, but unfortunately its roots penetrate too | | | | maintained around each for the first few years. In |
| far to make it a good, small, garden tree. | | | | addition, young trees should be fed each March |
| Conifers, of which cypress, cedar, juniper, fir, | | | | with a topdressing of manure or a compound |
| larch and pine are familiar examples, differ from | | | | fertiliser used according to manufacturer's |
| other trees in having narrow, sometimes | | | | instructions. No ornamental tree requires regular |
| needle-like leaves. Most, but not all, are evergreen. | | | | pruning, but most will benefit from a little shaping |
| There are not many other evergreen trees, so | | | | in the early stages to maintain a good balance of |
| conifers do play a rather special part in the | | | | growth on all sides while retaining a natural habit. |
| garden, accentuated by the fact that many are | | | | Suckers - growths from the roots and from the |
| conical in habit in contrast to the more rounded | | | | main trunk below the head of branches - should |
| shapes of broad-leaved trees. Though naturally | | | | also be removed. When removing branches, cut |
| green leaved, some conifers produce varieties | | | | them close to a fork or where they join a larger |
| with leaves of different colours, usually blue-grey | | | | branch of the main trunk. |
| or golden. Most conifers are allowed to branch | | | | |