Trees in your Garden

There's no doubt that trees can make a whole lot of difference to a garden and give it a comforting and mature feel. And there are plenty of trees to choose from, ranging from trees that mature to magnificent specimens like oak and ash, to conifers that grow stately or sometimes unwieldy to exotic species like palms that happily grow in the more temperate parts of Sussex, towards the coast.

Like everything else in the garden, it's important to plan ahead - and even more so when you're planting trees that could be around for a very long time. Take into account how close to the house you're planting and whether the tree has intrusive roots, like a willow or more contained ball-like roots, which may not cause so much damage but might mean the tree is less stable in a windy situation.

Landscaping a garden has a lot of elements and trees can form a wonderful backdrop, whether you're planting a solid evergreen hedge to show off a feature or choosing a sculptural tree that is a feature in itself.  Select the type of tree you want and incorporate it into your garden plan before buying anything. It's easy to get carried away at the garden centre if you don't know exactly what you need.

If in doubt, consult an experienced landscape gardener for help and advice.