Trees on sale in Supermarket

[Jonathan Hare]

Whilst doing a bit of shopping in Morrisons last week, I noticed on sale were a selection of trees (Ornamental Trees, as they had on the packaging), which they were numerous speicies of trees in the selection which included Silver Birch for £1.99 each the birch was around about 4 foot tall. How fast growing are the Silver Birch and how tall will they grow to.

Buy one and help wildlife and also help in the combat of so called global warming.

[joannec]

Whilst doing a bit of shopping in Morrisons last week, I noticed on sale were a selection of trees (Ornamental Trees, as they had on the packaging), which they were numerous speicies of trees in the selection which included Silver Birch for £1.99 each the birch was around about 4 foot tall. How fast growing are the Silver Birch and how tall will they grow to.

Buy one and help wildlife and also help in the combat of so called global warming.

Silver birch trees are a very environmentally friendly tree for your garden, very good for wildlife gardening. They are native to Britain and second only to the oak for numbers of fauna species living on/in it. They are fairly fast growing, compared to, say, oak. I have two in my garden that were planted 17 years ago and the trunks at the base are about 7" across and they are maybe 30' tall. There are nearly always birds in it. So I would say, if your garden is big enough for it, go for it, plant several if you've room. You won't regret it.

Joanne

[deborah4]

Hi Jonathan

We speaking from the same hymn sheet here!

All my garden trees are from Woolworths about 3 and half years ago. I bought a Silver Birch, two Cherry Trees and two Apple Trees also a laburnum.

The Silver Birch was an 3' twig with 2 shoots when I bought it. It is now doing beautifully and over 13' feet tall so I guess it's grown roughly 3 foot per year. The most important thing to remember for the first two years of planting is to keep them well watered - I used bucket loads the first year all through the summer! Now birds like Tits, Robin, Wren and even Chiffchaff, use the tree for food - the birch attracts moth caterpillars which can strip the tree but I decided after the first year not to remove them, now the birds do the gardening.

Ps Don't worry about the height, you can always have them pruned - one of the reasons I chose Birch, other than those Joanne mentioned, was that the leaves are very light and hence doesn't block out too much light for other peoples gardens - when you're leaving in a tightly packed residential area, that's one of the things to consider - The fruit trees also have lovely blossom so concession to the neighbours there as well as lots of Aphids and fruit flies for the tits etc. All the apples that grow, I chop up for the Blackbirds, Thrushes (and squirrels!)

[Kits]

We have a silver birch in the front garden and it must be nearly 40 feet tall. Treecreepers, nuthatches and GSW all love it, as do the blue tits, great tits, LTTs, and coal tits. They are one of my favourite trees. The only (personal) downside is that the catkins set off my and my son's hayfever.

[devon.birder]

Whilst doing a bit of shopping in Morrisons last week, I noticed on sale were a selection of trees (Ornamental Trees, as they had on the packaging), which they were numerous speicies of trees in the selection which included Silver Birch for £1.99 each the birch was around about 4 foot tall. How fast growing are the Silver Birch and how tall will they grow to.

Buy one and help wildlife and also help in the combat of so called global warming.

As I have just cleared an area of what used to be my vegetable patch I thought that five Silver Birch trees would be great for this patch. I paid my first visit to the local Morrissons for several years and the flower and plant section was just inside the door.
I looked in vain for any Silver Birch trees so my wife asked one of the Assistants only to be told that the offer was last week and they had all gone.
However, a little further down the aisle I saw a bin with trees sticking out the top and whilst they appeared to be all apple trees I thought it worth a closer look. I soon found a Silver Birch tree and then another and another and another. To complete my purchase I found a Rowan tree also at £1.99.
Thanks for posting this Jonathan, I am off now to plant them. Roger

[Jonathan Hare]

Well at least Im able to help people pick up some bargains. Told the local pet shop owners about the deal and they couldn't believe it either.

Do I go and buy one and stick in the middle of the garden where it has well and truly over grown and say that I know nothing about it, it must of grown from some bird droppings. I wouldn't think he would notice untill it gets large. Since there are bushes and shrubs growing wildly and hasnt been tended to for over a year or more. lol

[Cyclops]

Whilst doing a bit of shopping in Morrisons last week, I noticed on sale were a selection of trees which included Silver Birch for £1.99 each the birch was around about 4 foot tall. How fast growing are the Silver Birch and how tall will they grow to. .
I wish they had these in our branch of Morrisons but sadly no. They are great fast growing trees that are good for birds too.

[joannec]

They are great fast growing trees that are good for birds too.


I'll say it again, silver birch are IMO the best wildlife tree you can plant in any garden in Britain so everyone who is reading this should plant at least one if they have the space. Oak are good too but 99% of gardens are too small and they take forever to grow. (So plant an oak for your grandchildren;)) .

Joanne

[Jonathan Hare]

I wish they had these in our branch of Morrisons but sadly no. They are great fast growing trees that are good for birds too.

In my branch of Morrisons they weren't in the garden section where you would expect, but they were further in the store in the middle of the fruit and veg section.

[Cyclops]

I'll say it again, silver birch are IMO the best wildlife tree you can plant in any garden in Britain so everyone who is reading this should plant at least one if they have the space.

Joanne
Well i have one in training as a bonsai,planted out in the garden at the mo ;)

[joannec]

Well i have one in training as a bonsai,;)

Well that won't attract much wildlife! :stuck: ;) LOL

Joanne

[Cyclops]

Well that won't attract much wildlife! :stuck: ;) LOL

Joanne
Ah but you see i get lots of cuttings from it so i can grow my own! Oh be aware folks,when pruning birches they bleed profusely and you should treat the wound with some sealant,i use vaseline.

[Mynydd Merlin]

Hi ya all. Picked up on this thread kinda late but have to agree generally with all the posts so far. The small trees offered by Morrisons are great value. Silver Birch is an ideal tree for a reasonable size garden, and is a fairly good wildlife magnet (once it is mature enough to support a reasonable insect population). But in my humble opinion, the better tree to consider is the Rowan (mountain ash). No reason why you can't have both (or several!)
We have quite a lot of both species in our garden and I reckon the Rowan is more attractive to birds.
Okay, since I also have 6 acres of mixed woodland, including mature oaks and this is a more wildlife 'active' zone, the trees and big shrubs in the garden are still an important resource for the birds.
The moral here is: no matter how small your garden, you can find room for a native or ornamental tree that will help and attract birds (and other wildlife).
I know it's a small thing but planting a tree reduces our own carbon footprint.

[Cyclops]

in my humble opinion, the better tree to consider is the Rowan (mountain ash). No reason why you can't have both (or several!)
We have quite a lot of both species in our garden and I reckon the Rowan is more attractive to birds.

The moral here is: no matter how small your garden, you can find room for a native or ornamental tree that will help and attract birds (and other wildlife).
Yes the Rowan is an excellent tree. Its white fragrant flowers attract insects and its red berries attract the birds! Also it looks bloody good in autumn! I have a domestic plum in my garden that was here when we moved in,not sure how good the fruit is for wildlife but the flowers certainly are!

[joannec]

But in my humble opinion, the better tree to consider is the Rowan (mountain ash). .


Yes, rowan is another excellent native tree and very attractive too. It, however, does not do well on clay soils, doesn't like it's roots too wet. Had one in my garden, which is clay. It struggled and eventually died but I remember one year when a mass of fieldfare arrived and stripped it of berries in a few hours. Great sight.

Joanne

[Cyclops]

Yes, rowan is another excellent native tree and very attractive too. It, however, does not do well on clay soils, doesn't like it's roots too wet. Had one in my garden, which is clay. It struggled and eventually died but I remember one year when a mass of fieldfare arrived and stripped it of berries in a few hours. Great sight.

Joanne
all we used to get on my mom's Rowan were starlings,loads of em!

[Isurus]

I'll simply agree with Joanne and Mynydd's comments re birch and rowan and am delighted bf-ers are tucking into the cheap tree offers.

One point to note if buying rowan or birch from garden centres on the cheap (especially those bargain buckets where they end up with old, slightly tatty stock (an excellent source of plant material)) is that if you want natives you need to make sure you are buying the native birch or rowan. Most places nowadays will sell a number of "silver birches" and "mountain ash/rowans" that are not native. They are invariably also excellent wildlife trees but are not native if that's whats floating your boat.

[Cyclops]

yea and most silver birches planted by the council round here arent in fact the true native Betula pendula but a hybrid with a much whiter bark.

Also some Rowans have berries of a different colour and I think I'm right in saying that birds prefer the red ones of the native to those yellow or white beries of the fancy cultivars.

[joannec]

I'll simply agree with Joanne and Mynydd's comments re birch and rowan and am delighted bf-ers are tucking into the cheap tree offers.

One point to note if buying rowan or birch from garden centres on the cheap (especially those bargain buckets where they end up with old, slightly tatty stock (an excellent source of plant material)) is that if you want natives you need to make sure you are buying the native birch or rowan. Most places nowadays will sell a number of "silver birches" and "mountain ash/rowans" that are not native. They are invariably also excellent wildlife trees but are not native if that's whats floating your boat.

Hi Isurus

I think what you are referring to is that many of them are grown in Holland and while not actually grown in Britain, if the species are Betula pendula
(silver birch) or Sorbus aucuparia (rowan), then they are native species. Purists may argue the point but personally I don't think it matters, what's important is that they are excellent plants for wildlife, irrespective of whether they are grown in the Uk or Holland.

Joanne

[joannec]

Also some Rowans have berries of a different colour and I think I'm right in saying that birds prefer the red ones of the native to those yellow or white beries of the fancy cultivars.


Hi Cyclops

You are right, there are many cultivars of rowan, some with red, orange, yellow and even white berries. Probably you are right when you say birds prefer the red. There could be reasons for planting a variety instead of the specie, such as maybe because the garden is small and there isn't room for a full size rowan, or birch for that matter, so a variety whose ultimate size is smaller may be more appropriote. In this case it is better to plant a variety than no tree. Being close to or a hybrid of, a native will still attract wildlife, just may not be quite as effective.

Joanne

[Gill Osborne]

So glad someone has started a thread on these wonderful bargains to be had as I've often been tempted - though as I live in an upstairs flat at the moment I have to abstain ;) Not for long *hopefully* though as I plan to move next year as I WANT a garden again - I can't bear not being able to get my hands into the soil!

One teensy thing though....I'm sure you have to remember to plant Silver Birch not too close to the house as they have quite strong roots that can undermine your foundations and...........

Did anybody back Silver Birch to win the Grand National yesterday? ;) 33-1 would buy you a lot more birch & ash from Morrisons and Woolworths if you did :-O

[Cyclops]

Did anybody back Silver Birch to win the Grand National yesterday? ;) 33-1 would buy you a lot more birch & ash from Morrisons and Woolworths if you did :-O
not me, I'm against horse racing, or any sport that exploits animals for our financial gain.

[Henstooth]

MMMM!...been doing my garden yesterday and gunna move a potted red mapel from the front to a planted spot in the garden. I will look into the birch / rowen but the wife has fallen for the cherry (pink blossom). Thoughts please...?

[Cyclops]

MMMM!...been doing my garden yesterday and gunna move a potted red mapel from the front to a planted spot in the garden.
careful when re-siting that red maple as theyre a bit sensitive to full sun and sharp winds on the new leaves.

[joannec]

MMMM!...been doing my garden yesterday and gunna move a potted red mapel from the front to a planted spot in the garden. I will look into the birch / rowen but the wife has fallen for the cherry (pink blossom). Thoughts please...?

Maybe you could compromise on the native wild cherry, Prunus avium or the Bird cherry Prunus padus. Prunus avium does grow big though, 25 meters(but takes a long time) and has small single white flowers and they are very pretty trees in my opinion. I see you're in Kent, not too far from me, and I know it does well in Sussex. Prunus padus is smaller, 15 meters, and native to the north of England and Scotland. I can't say I'm very familiar with it though.

Joanne

[Henstooth]

Good and well said advice re red Maple. I think that more by luck than judgement I have put it in a FAB place....just pray that it's happy..I can't imagine that it won't 'cos there is no damage to roots and it's got a free plot to get water.
Pete

[Henstooth]

Good advice about the Maple..I think I have placed it in a great spot (more by luck than judgement). I just hope that it takes. I can't see why not as it's out of a large pot..I didn't damage the roots and now it can take as much water as it wants rather than depending on me for water. The ribin has used it to leap onto a feeder moved closer.
Pete

[Cyclops]

No problem. Red Maples are slow growers, I have one in training for bonsai, eventually!

[Jos Stratford]

I'll say it again, silver birch are IMO the best wildlife tree you can plant in any garden in Britain

Lucky you said Britain. Worst tree to plant on many parts of my land - 'cos it's also number one tree that beavers fancy a chomp upon! Plant today, little chewed stump tomorrow! Fortunately they also grow like crazy, so plenty coming up naturally (away from water) to offset the losses!

Edit, still do plant them though ;)

[RedJango]

Just to let everyone know, Morrisons are selling the same trees again - I have picked 3 up this week!!

£1.99 for a Silver Birch?? Crazy!! Let's all get a couple!!

[Cyclops]

Good deal,wonder if they have any Rowan.
BTW some time ago there were a bunch of guys in the town,part of a green initiative,giving trees away,for free. I got silver birch and field maple,not sure if they're doing well tho. I do already have a 3 foot silver birch in the garden,an ex bonsai tree that I decided would serve wildlife better. But i really want some berry bearers;i do have a few Cotoneastears that I planted but need a tree with height.

[Jonathan Hare]

I was just thinking the other day if they were going to be doing it again funny enough.

[devon.birder]

Good deal,wonder if they have any Rowan.
BTW some time ago there were a bunch of guys in the town,part of a green initiative,giving trees away,for free. I got silver birch and field maple,not sure if they're doing well tho. I do already have a 3 foot silver birch in the garden,an ex bonsai tree that I decided would serve wildlife better. But i really want some berry bearers;i do have a few Cotoneastears that I planted but need a tree with height.

I bought three Rowan at Morrisons today for £1.99 each. They also had Silver Birch and a few others as well. Roger

[joannec]

Nice to see this thread revived!

I do already have a 3 foot silver birch in the garden,an ex bonsai tree that I decided would serve wildlife better. .


Glad the bonsais are being put to such good use!;)

Joanne

[whomes]

How tall were the Rowan and Silver Birch at Morrisons yesterday?

[Peewit]

Tired to look up website unless I missing out her on something.

Native plants and how Silver Birch and Rowan grows

Silver Birch
http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.birch.html
Rowan
http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.rowan.html

Cyclops: No problem. Red Maples are slow growers, I have one in training for bonsai, eventually!

Well done for you doing what you have done for Bonsai are hard to grow and get the knack of at the best of times.

[devon.birder]

How tall were the Rowan and Silver Birch at Morrisons yesterday?

All three trees that I bought are approx. two feet high. Roger

[Jonathan Hare]

I got a Mountain Ash, Rowan last week from Morrisons and planted it in a very large plant pot. Seems to have settled in nicely with the leaves unfolding. Should be a good grower this year.

Mine was about 2-3 feet tall.

[Jonathan Hare]

Just to bump this thread along slightly. Since planting in March, it has grown to around 5 feet tall with a bit of coaxing by tying it with grass strands to wooden pole, only one large branch growing off from it. Will try to get some pictures taken before the leaves shed. I am maybe thinking of getting some more trees next year.

[Quercus]

If you want good quality, but reasonably priced native trees, I'd go for the mail order ones, from reputable nurseries advertised under 'hedging ' in the back of any gardening magazine at this time of year.

[bradinho]

I plumped for the Rowan last year and it is now 7ft+ tall but fairly straggly .... and it didn't flower this year ....

I also have 2/3 types of Pyracantha(?) the blackbirds love the red berried variety but don't seem as keen on the yellow variety, Forsynthia tree which birds love, Ivy and 2 conifers that were already there

[mickg]

Just bought a Japanese Rowan. £15- about 7 foot tall. Think it's going to stuggle as I have shallow,wet clay soil. Dug a deep hole to give it a chance.

Even if it dies it's something for the birds to perch on. Anyone have any experience with these? Its Sorbus Commixta.

Cheers Mick

[dampflippers]

Supermarket trees and shrubs are often great as long as you get new stock. If they have been in the shop for a while then the buds may have burst too early, or they may have died.
So...check that the plant looks healthy and always keep the receipt.

[Jon Turner]

Just bought a Japanese Rowan. £15- about 7 foot tall. Think it's going to stuggle as I have shallow,wet clay soil. Dug a deep hole to give it a chance.

Even if it dies it's something for the birds to perch on. Anyone have any experience with these? Its Sorbus Commixta.

Cheers Mick

Sorbus Commixta was recommended somewhere many years ago as a good berry tree to attract Waxwings. In Yorkshire you're in a much better position to attract them than I am down yer in Deb'n! I planted one about 14 years ago, it's now about 20+ feet high, and produces lots of berries (most years) which the local Blackbirds soon polish off, long before any passing Waxwings might get a chance!

Jon

[mickg]

Well we do get Waxwings in the area, this year at least, so you never know.

It's in now- fingers crossed it likes it's new home. Local goldfinch seem to like it as a perch anyway.

Thanks for replying.

[joannec]

Just giving this good old thread a bump.....from now until the end of March is one of the best time to plant trees. Avoid frosty spells and wet weather and if you've got clay soil, like me, wait until it dries out a bit. Always good to add a generous amount of organic matter, manure if you are lucky enough to acquire some, or compost in a large hole. Don't skimp on the soil preparation; your trees will grow best and reward you later if you do a thorough job now. I'm thinking of getting a crab apple for the thrushes...maybe it will even attract some waxwing in future years.:-O Happy planting everyone! :t:

Joanne

[Mary]

Just giving this good old thread a bump.....from now until the end of March is one of the best time to plant trees. Avoid frosty spells and wet weather and if you've got clay soil, like me, wait until it dries out a bit. Always good to add a generous amount of organic matter, manure if you are lucky enough to acquire some, or compost in a large hole. Don't skimp on the soil preparation; your trees will grow best and reward you later if you do a thorough job now. I'm thinking of getting a crab apple for the thrushes...maybe it will even attract some waxwing in future years.:-O Happy planting everyone! :t:

Joanne

There's also some bargains to be had with bare-rooted plants- much cheaper than pot grown. I got some lovely hawthorn and guelder rose from Ebay, 10 of each for £24.49 (Goldenhillplants). With that number, 2/3 neighbours could share a batch, perhaps.:t:

[Jabberwocky]

Trees are back on sale in Morrisons, still the same price. I think I,ll get a few as we lost several quite large silver birch when a very large willow fell on them last year.

Lewis