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Gardening

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Can anybody recommend a fruit tree or any other tree for a border that won’t cause too much shade(cherry?)

10 replies

N0addedsalt · 10/04/2023 19:27

My border ref needs something to add structure . Keen on another tree but don’t want to bring too much shade. Already got an Alamanchier.

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BarrelOfOtters · 10/04/2023 19:32

I’ve just put an eating cherry in, a merchant on a rooting stock that will only get to 8 foot. I’ve also put a snow queen silver birch in that I hope will be veil like, I’ve accepted at some point it will get too big and I’ll have to take it out. An apple would be good.

ive got a patio quince as well and an upright dark leaved flowering cherry, a cherry autumnalis would probably be not too shady either.

N0addedsalt · 10/04/2023 19:58

So if I got a Stella cherry on a small stock it wouldn’t cause too much shade?Would kind of like a column shaped tree but also want something we can eat- ideally.

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SarahAndQuack · 10/04/2023 19:59

I have prunus autumnalis and it is lovely, so agree that would be good. They are beautiful.

Or, you could go with something with a very narrow shape - a flagpole cherry, maybe?

Or, I have a quince that I've pruned into quite an open shape, and I don't feel they give much shade? They are beautiful trees. Depends how architectural - or how informal - you like it.

SarahAndQuack · 10/04/2023 20:03

Cross posted.

If you want something to eat, personally, I'd get a standardised fruit tree with a fairly upright habit - anything self-fertile, or fertilised by what you've got, would be fine. All fruit trees will cast a bit of dappled shade, but you need them pruned to an open shape anyway, so they're really much of a muchness IMO. If you get a standard, you'll get more light underneath anyway.

Alternatively I guess you could get something narrow on a very dwarfing rootstock, but I'd think it wouldn't make much structural impact?

Or, would you consider training a fruit tree into a cordon or pleach? That could be quite visually interesting, but would still be architectural.

N0addedsalt · 10/04/2023 20:08

How do you find fruit trees with an upright habit? Keep googling but just get ornamental trees.

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N0addedsalt · 10/04/2023 20:43

Wondering about a Cornus Kousa maybe but would rather a tree that paid its way iykwim.

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BernadetteIsMySister · 10/04/2023 20:49

We've just got rid of our cherry tree, the birds ate all the fruit and covered the garden and my washing in the resulting purple poo!

SarahAndQuack · 10/04/2023 20:50

N0addedsalt · 10/04/2023 20:08

How do you find fruit trees with an upright habit? Keep googling but just get ornamental trees.

Sorry! In all honesty I just trawl through individual descriptions looking for mentions of upright habit. But in general, pears are more upright than apples or cherries; damsons are generally more upright than other plums, etc.

I would have a good browse of sites like Ashridge, Chris Bowers, or R. V. Roger - they'll describe each tree, and if it's notably upright, the description will say so.

You can also train fruit trees on dwarfing rootstocks into columns, though TBH I don't think they're very reliable - often very short-lived/healthy. Guide here: https://www.chrisbowers.co.uk/article/the-essential-guide-to-columnar-fruit-trees/

column fruit trees guide - Chris Bowers

how to grow column, minarette and ballerina fruit trees

https://www.chrisbowers.co.uk/article/the-essential-guide-to-columnar-fruit-trees

SarahAndQuack · 10/04/2023 20:51

N0addedsalt · 10/04/2023 20:43

Wondering about a Cornus Kousa maybe but would rather a tree that paid its way iykwim.

Cornus Kousa is beautiful!

Rollercoaster1920 · 10/04/2023 20:53

My conference pear on quince rootstock is pretty small (2.7m) and vertical after 4 years.

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