Time for tree re-location
We have recently enjoyed a family visit to an arboretum in the Cotswolds. It was while admiring the beautiful specimen trees that we decided a couple of trees in our garden were in the wrong place. They were planted about seven years ago so we’ve resolved to transplant them before they get any bigger. Liquidamber styraciflua needs moving into the orchard where it can grow unhindered and enjoy more sunlight than it currently receives. This tree is still full of leaf, but once it is completely dormant we will move it into the space it deserves. The other, Prunus serrula was being completely overshadowed by Corylus maxima ‘Purpurea’, the purple-leaved hazel, which is in itself a beautiful shrub. To enjoy the mahogany-coloured peeling bark of the prunus to the full, this has now been moved to a sunnier spot in the orchard. We managed to dig it up without damaging too many roots. It is now well staked and will be kept watered. Still on the tree theme, there are plenty of leaves to rake up at the moment and many more left to fall. The leaves are stacked into a wire netting enclosure to rot down. I have started the end of season tidy up in the herbaceous borders, cutting all rotting foliage right back and weeding at the same time. Any seedheads are being left for a little while longer as greenfinches and chaffinches are still feeding on them. A recent slight frost has blackened the tops of the dahlia plants so these have been dug up and are currently drying off before being stored frost-free over winter. There are still a few flowers to enjoy, particularly the small white flowers of rose ‘Katharina Zeimet’ and pale pink chrysanthemum ‘Emperor of China’. Just coming into flower are Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’ and Mahonia ‘Lionel Fortescue’, both of which will provide colour into winter.
Tales from a Country Garden 