The specimen tree - A resting place among plants

A single specimen tree planted in a well-chosen spot makes a wonderful focal point for the garden. During summer days, it also provides a natural shelter from the heat of the sun.

Some popular trees, such as beech, oak, lime and chestnut, are less suited to the smaller garden because of their size. However, there are many other trees to choose from.

The centrepiece in the garden

The specimen tree should be the centre of attention in a garden. Choose a light and open space which gives easy access to the house. Remember that as the tree grows larger, it might cast shade on areas you want to remain sunny.

Also, remember that the tree must not be too close to neighbours' gardens. Ensure there is sufficient space around the speciment tree for it to grow freely for many years without pruning. This allows it to develop a well-shaped, natural crown.

Fruit trees used as specimens are an exception to the rule about pruning. They must be pruned if they are to yield a good harvest. Your efforts will be rewarded with a crop of apples, cherries or pears straight from the tree.

A spot to sit

The idea of a specimen tree is that it should not only be a dominant feature of the garden, but should also provide an ideal place to sit beneath its shady crown. A bench is therefore essential, and you may want to place a table and chairs beneath it as well. It is best to invest in garden furniture of the kind that can be left out in all weathers. THis will save you the trouble of taking it all indoors whenever it looks like rain.

A tall trunk

To enable people to move about under the crown of the tree, the trunk should be at least 1.8m high before the branches start to spread. This gives an airy sitting area, protected from the summer sun, while birds and other animals will be able to find a home in the crown.

The best location for a specimen tree is an open space in the garden. However, if you choose a shallow-rooted tree and plant it in a lawn, the roots may harm the grass by depriving it of nutrients and moisture. Shade will also tend to harm a lawn, creating difficult conditions for grass to grow and favouring the development of moss and other lawn weeds.

To prevent this, you could replace the lawn under the tree, where the garden furniture will go, with a covering of duck boards, stone flags or paving stones. If you do this, leave as large a space as possible between the planks or stones, so water can reach the tree roots.

Remember too that there will be exceptional wear and tear on the area under the tree. To alleviate this, mix sand with a clay soil to make it lighter and more easily drained.

Which tree?

When choosing a specimen tree, personal taste is not the only consideration. Ask these crucial questions:

- What is the soil like in the garden?

- How high is the ground water?

- Will the branches start reaching into the neighbours' garden in a few years' time?

- Do you want herbaceous plants under the tree?

If you are at all uncertain, you should always choose a tree with a small, light crown.

Choose native varieties

Native trees are usually able to survive both cold winters and dry summers. They are also likely to resist disease, and species such as maple, pear and hawthorn all tolerate exposed sites.

Make your choice on the basis of features of the tree: flowering, fruit, foliage and shape of the branches. All the low-growing maples are very suitable for small gardens. Their abundant foliage lasts long into autumn, before the flaming leaves finally fall to the ground.

Apples and pears flower in May and bear fruit in autumn. The thorny hawthorns grow a mass of scented flowers.

Care

Once the specimen tree has been planted and is well rooted, it requires little extra care - apart from the raking of leaves in autumn. Fruit trees will, of course, require regular pruning if they are to continue giving good crops, and you will have to pick the fruit. Apart from this, you only need to remove dead or unwanted branches and to watch for pests.

The tree will require watering during dry periods and it should also be fed. In other words, the specimen tree should be tended in the same way as all the other trees and shrubs in the garden.

Planting

Trees bought bare-rooted, without a soil ball or container, will certainly need pruning. Prune both roots and branches down to half their original length. Plant straight away trees with a soil ball or those that are container grown. Always remove the plastic or fabric sheeting or container before planting and follow the correct procedure carefully. Secure the tree to an adequately sized stake, to ensure that the roots are not loosened.

The soil should be improved with some slow-acting organic fertilizer. During the first two years, the tree needs regular watering so that it can develop quickly into a strong and healthy tree.

Do not forget that it will be at least four or five years before oyu can sit down in the pleasant shade cast by your specimen tree.