Trees bring a garden to life, expert suggests

Alison Patel writes: A garden without a tree is lacking something and even poeple with small outside spaces can cope with a birch or a mountain ash.

That is according to gardening expert Joe Swift, who has suggested that their "visual impact" coupled with the fact they are "critical for our survival", makes trees indispensible features of any garden.

Writing in the Times, Mr Swift advised those with small gardens to avoid planting oak, eucalyptus or cypress leylandii trees.

He said, however, that as long as a tree is planted "at least its ultimate height away from the house", it will be fine.

Mr Swift recommended silver birches, which he said were "beautiful in a city space alongside strong architecture".

Another tree which made it into his top ten is the Olive-olea europaea which he described as an "elegant evergreen" ideal for planting in a sunny position.

Magnolia trees are singled out by Mr Swift as ideal for small gardens and he suggested the "deciduous Star Wars", which is a new hybrid which will remain small.

The Royal Horticultural Society has warned gardeners that established magnolias "do not respond well to pruning" and suggested that branches are clipped only in midsummer.

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