TREES

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TREE
I was in Swan Park this week having a nosey at the great work that the tree surgeons are doing down there. Some of the older specimens are getting a bit unsteady on their feet (roots?) and are either being cut back, or taken down all together, as in the case of some old beech trees that are sliding down into Crana river.

Shredding the smaller branches for mulch in Swan Park this week.

Choosing the right tree for a plot can be a challenge. It’s important to choose types that will fit into the size and scale of your garden. All too often we see willow undermining the foundations of a house or misplaced monkey puzzle trees six feet away from the door and doing their best to get in though the letter box.



ADVICE FROM AN EXPERT
To find out about choosing trees, I popped over to see Jacqueline Doherty in Fahan. Jacqueline took over the running of Willowhill Nurseries last month, so I went to ask her about the trees that grow well around Inishowen. Jacqueline is no stranger to Willowhill as she first started working there when she was twelve. “I used to work on Saturdays in the summer when Kevin Towey, the original owner, was the boss. I remember Kevin’s time here well” she continued. “He was a charismatic man and a true professional when it came to working in gardens”

While we were talking Jacqueline was kept busy with deliveries, as well as managing some new developments, which she is implementing. “The garden centre has been in business for thirty years now” she explained, “and we are giving the centre a major overhaul with new display areas and propagation tunnels There is a lot of new stock arriving all the time, including trees!”

Jacqueline’s favourite tree is a mountain ash. “The Sorbus Joseph Rock is a great seaside tree and copes very well with salt spray,” she tells me. “This variety produces vivid yellow berries, although you can get them with red or orange fruit. These trees can tolerate everything that the Inishowen weather can throw at them. They look great for a long period too with their lovely berries and startling red leaves in autumn. The berries are a great treat for the birds in late autumn” she concludes.

Jacqueline is also a great fan of the evergreen eucalypyus trees. “For all year interest the eucalyptus tree is hard to beat. These Australian trees have a peeling papery bark and can tolerate our strong winds” she added. “But make sure you give them plenty of room as they grow very quickly.”

Jacqueline Doherty from Willowhill Nursery in Fahan rates the eucalyptus as one of her favourite trees. you can contact Willow Hill Nursery on 073 93 60640

TREES FOR DIFFERENT SITES
Here are some more trees that Jacqueline recommends.

Wet sites: Alder (Alnus cordata) and willows (salix) these can put up with extremely wet areas but make sure they have room all around them, as they can get very large!
Full sun: Flowering cherry (Prunus) produce masses of pink or white blossoms. They brighten up the garden in spring and give you dramatic leaf colours in autumn.

Shady areas: Cotoneaster pendula is an excellent tree for a shady area. It produces pinkish white flowers followed by red berries. It is evergreen and has an attractive weeping habit.

Small gardens: June berry (Amelanchier) will grow up to about 5 metres and produce star shaped white star shaped flowers in spring. The copper coloured leaves are attractive and get more vivid in autumn. Prunus P. nigra or copper plum shouldn’t be forgotten either as their pink flowers in spring are a treat!

Next week Jacqueline will take us through the tree planting procedure. For more advice, pop in and see Jacqueline in Willowhill nursery



DIARMUID GAVIN IN CARNDONAGH

Don’t forget the talk with Diarmuid Gavin tomorrow (Wednesday 20th) at 8 pm in the Áras, Community School in Carndonagh. Diarmuid will be talking about designconcepts for the Barrack Hill project, an ambitious scheme to create an imaginative community space and play park. Diarmuid will also be telling us a bit about landscape design. To get an idea of his projects and style, check out his website. The evening should prove to be very informative…and it’s free!