Product Description

Much more than just another tree encyclopedia, Trees for Small Gardens is a careful selection of the 100 best trees for use in small temperate gardens. Each entry includes lavish photographs and clear information about growth rate, care requirements, and seasonal interest. An extensive illustrated tree selector table allows readers to quickly choose that special tree that will make their garden a source of envy. This book will be an invaluable resource for every suburban gardener seeking to get the most out of their garden space.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #246189 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

Review
"Much more than just another tree encyclopedia."
—San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles, June 2005 (San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles )

"This attractive, useful guide is recommended for most public and horticulture libraries."
—Sue O'Brien, Library Journal, May 1, 2005 (Library Journal )

About the Author
Simon Toomer has devoted his life to studying all aspects of forestry, woodland management, and aboriculture. He holds a Master's Degree in Forestry, the Technical Certificate of Arboriculture, and has just been awarded the Professional Diploma of Arboriculture, making him a associate member of the Arboricultural Association and the Royal Forestry Society. Simon has worked for both the private and public sectors as an arboriculturalist, forester, and advisor, and has traveled extensively through Europe and Asia in this capacity. He works as curator of the National Arboretum, Westonbirt, UK.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Before going out to buy a tree for a garden, it is best to take some time considering the options. No plant center is big enough to accommodate all the available species and cultivars, and time spent looking at books and catalogs may reveal a whole new range of choice that would otherwise have been overlooked.

The most important thing to bear in mind is the situation for which the trees are intended to grow. Tho often people make a hurried choice based purely on the appearance of a plant itself with no regard to its attributes, requirements, or the function it needs to fulfill in the garden. Just like the beguiling puppy in the pet store window, purchases made in haste can have long-lasting consequences, especially when that small sapling shoots to over 80 ft. (25m) and outgrows the garden. It is much better to take time to decide what the tree is wanted for so that a more objective decision can be made to match the garden's requirements to the attributes of a particular plant. The final choice may still have an element of emotional impulse, but it should at least be based on a shortlist of suitable candidates.

The first questions to ask are to do with what the tree is needed for and whether there are any particular attributes required. Once this has been determined a list of plants that meet those criteria can be drawn up. Finally, the list can be refined to include only those trees that will tolerate the particular climatic, soil, and other conditions encountered in the intended location. Factfinders and selectors are particularly useful in this process.

Although books and catalogs can provide ideas, facts, and figures, there is nothing like seeing the plant "in the flesh," and visits to botanical gardens and arboreta are invaluable for checking out selected trees before purchase.

Trees play a very important role in the landscape of almost all gardens. They provide the structural framework below which the smaller and more ephemeral plants can be arranged. When designing from scratch they are often the first things to be sited, but for most of us inheriting an established garden, we must, to some extent, choose trees to complement the existing features.

Whether it's an individual plant that is required to meet a particular need, or a number to provide an overall structure, it is important to consider how they will contribute to the variety of colors, textures, and shapes to create a varied and interesting atmosphere. If a garden is to be more than just a jumble of plants it is also important that they are arranged so as to complement each other and show off their attributes to the full. Seasonal plants should be chosen and positioned carefully to provide a sequence of interest and brighten up even the dullest times of the year. Whether it be flowers, stem color or fall fruit, by careful combination it is possible to ensure that as one plant's display fades, another is about to step into the limelight. For some, like Amelanchier, the floral display is short-lived, and for the rest of the year it relies on the modest beauty of its foliage for appeal. Others, such as Betula pendula 'Youngii,' have all-year-round impact and should be given pride of place in a prominent position. In very small gardens with only enough room for a few plants, trees like this are particularly valuable. A few species are of such unusual or dramatic appearance as to make a particularly bold landscape statement. Purple-foliaged plants such as Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple,' and those with highly unusual leaves, like Trachycarpus fortunei, fail into this category. It is always tempting to fill the garden with plants like this in an effort to ensure constant spectacle. As in most things, you can have too much of a good thing and such a policy inevitably results in a devaluing of even the most spectacular plant. They should be used very sparingly, and most small gardens arc unlikely to have room for more than one or two.

Some kinds of plants play a more supportive role in the garden. Evergreens, such as yews and hollies, may not be the most dramatic of plants in themselves, but for much of the year are the great unsung heroes of garden design, providing backgrounds to enhance more ornamental species and screens to control views. They may have an even more down-to-earth function as hedges to define boundaries, or shelter planting against cold winds.

Of all the characteristics to be decided on when choosing trees, size must be the most important. As well as the obvious need to avoid species that will outgrow the garden, it is important that they are in scale with the space available and complement the other plants. Even trees that reach the modest height of about 33 ft. (l0m) are too large for some spaces, while smaller individuals of 6 to 9 ft. (2 to 3m) would look out of proportion if grown as specimens in larger settings.

As well as height, spread is an important consideration. Parrotia persica, with a typical height of about 26 ft. (8m), may seem a better choice for a confined space than Juniperus scopulorum that may reach 40 ft. (12m). However, the latter's narrow form allows it to be accommodated in gardens where the spreading habit of Parrotia would soon become a problem.

One difficulty with predicting plants' eventual size is their great variability. Even individuals of the same species show marked differences depending on climate, soil conditions, and origin. Magnolia grandiflora frequently reaches a height of over 80 ft. (25m) in the southern states of the USA but is restricted to much more modest proportions when planted further north. It may be possible, particularly with more common trees, to look around in neighboring gardens to see how large a particular species is likely to get. However, if in doubt it is best to err on the side of caution and choose something smaller. Fortunately, many cultivars have been selected that provide scaled-down versions of species. Magnolia grandifiora is a good example, with 'Little Gem' among its many smaller cultivars.

Having determined the physical and aesthetic attributes needed to complement the garden landscape, it is important to ensure that the trees chosen will succeed in the climatic zone for which they are intended. Even the most beautiful species grown in unsuitable conditions can turn out to be an ugly and disappointing specimen.

Hardiness is one of the most important considerations and may impose severe limitations on the list of possible species. It is useful to refer to climate zone maps such as those at the back of this book. These provide guidance based on the minimum winter temperatures likely to be encountered in each zone, and can be used in conjunction with the figures given for each plant in the selector. However useful these are, they cannot hope to encompass the more subtle variations in conditions that occur locally and should not he used religiously. Some plants, like Azara microphylla, may be grown in zones below their quoted figure with the shelter of a wall, while others that should in theory be hardy in a particular area may prove not to he due to spring frost patterns. An additional factor to hear in mind is that plants adapted to cool conditions often do less well in warmer climates. This should be considered carefully where plants are intended for zones well above their minimum.

Watering the garden is a chore that most people would prefer not to have to do. Occasional supplementary watering during dry spells is one thing, but it is best to avoid planting trees that have requirements well in excess of the natural rainfall for an average year. In dry climates it is best therefore to select trees like Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia' that have the ability to survive periods of drought. Again, selectors are useful for helping to determine which plants are suitable.

Trees have evolved in a variety of different wild environments. Acer palmatum, for example, grows naturally in the forests of central China, Korea, and Japan, commonly in the partial shade of larger trees. This characteristic can be used to advantage in the garden where it can occupy shady situations or form an intermediate layer between larger trees and herbaceous plants. Some trees, on the other hand, require full sunlight if they are to thrive or flower well. Most willows are known for their dislike of shade, and Koelreuteria paniculata rarely flowers unless given full sunlight.

Shelter is also an important factor determining the success of some species, particularly in their young stages. Tender trees like Embothrium and Crinodendron may be grown successfully in areas outside their normal climatic limit with the shelter of a protective wall or adjacent plants. Others such as Stewartia and some species of Nyssa benefit from shelter even within their climatic zones. Some of the most useful species are those that thrive even in quite severe exposure and can he used as windbreaks for humans and other plants alike. All species of Crataegus come into this category, as do most birches and pines.

Like all plants, trees vary greatly in their soil requirements, and it is usually their tolerance to various adverse conditions rather than strict requirements that limits their success. When we say, for example, that a particular plant requires an acid soil, it is more accurate to say that it cannot tolerate alkaline conditions.

Soil type is a fairly loosely used term that refers to the proportions of sand and clay in the soil. This has a strong influence on its ability to retain water, drainage, and fertility. Some trees, such as pines and birches, thrive in the relatively poor, dry conditions encountered on freely drained sandy soils. Others such as Stewartia have more demanding tastes, requiring a moist but well-drained loamy soil. Soils that are constantly wet or liable to periodic waterlogging, particularly during the growing season, requi...

Customer Reviews

Good Reference Book for Homeowners
With 177 pages, "Trees for the Small Garden" tries to narrow the choice of garden trees to a reasonable number from which a homeowner may choose without becoming either overwhelmed or a horticultural expert. [For a more comprehensive list check out "Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs" by Michael Dirr.]

Featured cultivars are said to be easily attainable at local nurseries and other plant suppliers.

Text descriptions include size (most of the specimens grow to a height of less than 33 feet, with many considerably smaller), hardiness, climate and soil specifications, pests and diseases, invasiveness and toxicity (of concern for those of us who like children and pets.) In addition there is something described as `aspect' by which I understand the author to mean environmental preference such as whether the plant likes to be sheltered.

There is a section on "Finding and Selecting Trees" and, of course, one on how to plant trees. All of these introductory discourses are then followed by the "Directory of Trees" itself. Each plant has 2 pages of photos. These lovely pictures show, when appropriate, features of the tree, such as what it looks like in bloom, or in winter. If the bark is of interest this also will be depicted so that there is no doubt what your tree will look like.

Each tree also has a "factfinder" block of data which states maximum height, hardiness, aspect, soil type, soil pH, and country of origin.

At the end of the book is a "Tree Selector" chart which lists each tree again with the following data:

Tolerance of ...
-- heavy clay soils
-- alkaline soils
-- poorly draining soils
-- dry soil
-- salt spray
-- exposure
-- extreme cold

Also whether the tree is evergreen, compact, flowered (in season), has foliage of interest, interesting fall color, attractive bark and winter interest.

Nicely done, this manageably sized book is a good guide for the homeuser. The only drawback I found (for me at least) in this and in nearly every other every tree and shrub tomb, is that the authors ONLY refer to plants by their Latin names. Unlike some books, however, this one at least allows you to look up the common names in the index so that one does not need to know that a Black Locust is scientifically known as `Robinia pseudoacacia'.

A good reference for the professional or homeowner
I am really impressed with this book on small trees. As a landscape designer, I look for horticultural books that present the information in a clear and simple way, but don't dumb it down in the process, and this book wins on both counts. The information is of a professional caliber, but would also be accessible to anyone with a basic hobbyist's/ homeowner's knowledge of horticultural terms.

The book is arranged alphabetically by botanical name (with the common name printed in bold below the botanical name), and each page or set of two pages features a different plant. Nearly every page in the book has either one full-page color photo or a series of close-up photos showing the special features of each plant, so you can really see what the habit, foliage, and flowers/ fruits look like.

Each page of text has a box with the plant's basic information such as height, hardiness, soil preferences, and light needs, so it is easy to narrow down your search quickly. The text on each page goes into fuller detail about the plant's uses and preferences, the different cultivars available and the benefits and drawbacks of each. The text amasses a wealth of information that is hard to figure out by experience and that often isn't readily available, so I am finding it an exceptionally valuable reference. The author chose plants that are easy to find at the nursery, but aren't so common that you will end up planting the same tree that all of your neighbors have.

The numerous, clear, full-color photos are also wonderful. I am finding that this is a book that I take with me on consultations to show people my favorite trees, because I haven't found any other book which has such great pictures of the mature specimens.

If you are trying to find a plant with a certain attribute, the author has a tree selector in the back, which has charts of plants separated by certain characteristics, like attractive flowers, attractive fruits or cones, foliage interest, fall color, attractive bark, and winter interest. The charts can help you compare plants with those attributes, to find out, say, which trees with attractive flowers will also tolerate heavy soils and have fall color. Then you can narrow it down further to find which of those plants bloom in the spring.

Overall, this is an excellent reference and well-worth the money. Between the easily navigated charts, the thorough and easy-to-understand text, and the gorgeous photos, this has become my favorite reference book when looking up a tree.

An excellent book for gardeners
This book contains everything you need in selecting trees for a small garden area. Most of the book is dedicated to the directory of over 65 trees/varieties. It has multiple color photos for each tree, one of a mature specimen in a garden scene and then others of interesting aspects of that tree, such as bark, foliage, flowers, fruit, etc. Also with each tree is a table of the basic information about the tree - soil type, temperature, hardiness and potential problems or weaknesses.

Another point of interest here is the background and history of each tree, including the country of origen.

I found the tables in the back of the book to be quite useful, identifying trees with interesting flowers, foliage, winter interest, bark, etc. A map of hardiness zones for North Americn and Europe is the inside back cover. There is also a list of books for further reading.

I really like this book.