Which tree to plant in feb?

[1wokeuplikethis]

It’s our 5th wedding anniversary and the tradition is Wood, so I’d quite like to buy my husband a fledgling tree that we can plant in our garden and watch grow over the years.

I have zero gardening skills or knowledge other than two summers ago I grew a sunflower 6ft high in the garden and that is my sole green fingered achievement.

I’ve had a look online and saw one article saying a cherry blossom tree can be planted this time of year. I adore these but I wanted to check with anyone more knowledgeable than me as to whether this is a good option or if something else would be better?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Container-grown trees and shrubs can be planted at any time of year as long as the ground isn't frozen, so now would be fine. Take advice from the seller about how to plant and whether it needs staking.

You might want to wait a few days for the winds to subside though!

Feb is a good time to plant, remember to dig a nice big hole (bigger than the tub you bought it in) so the soil in uncompacted and it can spread its roots. Firm the soil down with your foot round the base of the trunk once it's planted.

Please remember in its first year to give your tree a bucket of water to drink in dry spells if we have a hot summer, as until it has sent down deep roots it will need a bit of help.

Cherry trees are lovely. I get all my plants from Crocus. They are top quality well packed and have a 2 year no questions guarantee. They also have a 20% discount at present. If you are going to use mail order, avoid Primrose, they are dreadful.

Also when you google, use the word Prunus so that you get flowering cherry rather than fruit trees.

Keep an eye on this thread for other ideas
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/3819724-Tree-for-small-garden

Thank you everyone for your great advice. I never realised how many different types of cherry tree there is though, it’s a bit overwhelming!

Florenze what is Crocus? I had a google but nothing came up. Is it a garden centre?

Google www.crocus.uk and it will take you to their website. It is a long established mail order Company. Another thing to remember is to check the eventual height and spread of the tree. In a small garden go for a dwarf variety. I love the column/flagpole types as they are neat forming and don’t require pruning. The weeping and spreading varieties can be pruned. This should be done in August. If you prune too early in the year the sap will drip and damage the tree.

You can have early flowering and late flowering trees, so you could buy one to flower around your anniversary. Late year flowering cherries should be pruned after they have flowered.

They are very easy to look after, just remember to water well. In the first year.

Why not get a cherry that flowers and then fruits? As long as it is self fertile (any description should tell you this) eg Stella, you'll have the added bonus of lovely fruit as well as the blossom.

Also look at a Rowan tree or a crab apple. both are good for small gardens