A Quick Guide to Identifying British Trees
- By Paul Day Tree Surgery
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- 08 Jul, 2019
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Here in the UK, we’re blessed to have a stunning array of some of the most iconic and beautiful trees in the world. Whether it’s the mighty oak tree sitting in ancient woodland or the sprightly hazel tree, dotted across the English countryside, British woodlands are really something to behold.
Yet, for many of us, knowing how each tree actually differs from one another can be especially difficult. With this in mind, we’ve decided to create a quick guide to help you learn how to better identify British trees.
Arguably one of the most iconic trees in Britain, the oak tree is a beloved part of the UK ecosystem. Standing between 20-40m tall, this robust, yet fast-growing tree can live for over 1000 years.
At first glance, an oak trees crown is spread wide and is stabilised by a strong trunk. Oak trees are deciduous, meaning they lose their leaves in winter, however, you can find acorns littered around its base during late autumn and early winter.
In spring and summer, you’ll be able to identify an oak by its distinctive lobed leaves and the beginnings of the new season's acorns.
Common beech - Fagus sylvatica
Growing to over 130ft tall, it’s hard to miss this British giant. The Common Beech’s most striking feature is its huge domed canopy. Another telltale sign is the smooth, thin and grey bark, usually accompanied with horizontal lines along the trunk.
On closer inspection, you’ll notice that the lime green leaves have silky hairs during the spring and grow a darker green as the year goes on. In the winter time, look out for pointed leaf buds that aren’t pressed against the branches.
English elm - Ulmus minor var. Vulgaris
This now very rare tree is not usually found outside of quarantined zones in Brighton and Edinburgh due to Dutch Elm Disease, however, as a tree that is so intertwined with British history, it still remains an iconic addition to our forests.
The thing to look out for when identifying an English Elm is their rounded leaves with asymmetrical bases; the top side of the leaf will be noticeably rougher. Also, take note of bark - it will be rough and fissured, with suckers growing from the trunk.
Common hazel - Corylus avellana
Although many hazel trees are coppiced, hazel trees can easily reach a height of 40 feet if left untouched. Their thin and bendy branches are so malleable during the Spring that you can quite easily tie them in a knot without the branches breaking.
Keep an eye out for the tasty hazelnuts that grow in clusters or the litany of small animals which rely on the tree’s fruits for sustenance.
Look after your trees with Paul Day Treecare
Of course, the above trees are just a mere fraction of the hugely biodiverse range of species the UK has to offer, all with their important role to play. As tree surgery experts, we at Paul Day Treecare find the UK’s unique trees fascinating and work with our customers to ensure that their’s stands the test of time.
If you’re looking for the expertise of a quality tree surgeon here in Sheffield, get in touch with Paul Day Treecare today on 01909 519 675 or visit our website to learn more.
Spending time in the garden has been proven to provide a range of mental health benefits. From improving the connection we have with the world to reducing stress, gardening can make us happier, healthier and more fulfilled people. Having the perfect garden to unwind in only helps to improve these benefits and, as the summer arrives, working with local gardeners can ensure your outdoor space is summer-ready.
From large-scale projects, like landscaping and patio installations, to more generalised maintenance, local gardeners can breath new life into your outdoor area for the ensuing period of parties and entertaining. To give you some inspiration, we’ve provided a few tips on how to create the perfect summer-ready garden.
Have Local Gardeners Perform Landscaping and Garden Improvements
When summer begins to peek over the horizon, it can inspire us to change our homes to accommodate living outdoors. This process may require some improvement in your garden, but investing in the below additions can create a much more habitable environment.
Paving your garden is an excellent way to create an entertainment area for the summer. If you’re lucky enough to have a large outdoor space, you can section off an area dedicated to dining and parties.
Similarly, paving is a great way to section off other areas of the garden and create a ‘zonal’ space. Using paving intelligently, local gardeners can dissect areas of your garden for different purposes. For example, you could install paving as a perimeter to your flower bed, for entertainment space and for dining.
Similarly to paving, a decked area will create a more habitable environment for friends and family to dine outdoors. By installing a decked area at the top of your garden, you can create the perfect space to utilise for summer parties and gatherings.
Local Gardeners Can Improve The Privacy of Your Garden For Summer Parties With Fencing
Creating a new entertainment space in your garden is all well and good. However, you may also need to improve the privacy of your garden at the same time. Local gardeners can provide quality fencing products to ensure that you have the privacy you want.
Particularly if you have a young family and live in a built-up area, it’s important to have adequate security. Every family wants to be able to enjoy the summer in their garden without the unease of limited privacy measures. From timber fences to bespoke solutions, there are plenty of options which ensure your garden is summer-ready.
Employ Local Gardeners To Prune and Thin Trees To Allow More Sun In
As summer approaches, your trees and bushes will begin to become more unruly. If left to their own devices, the plant life in your garden may become obstructive and can even hinder the growth of other plants. That’s why it’s always a good idea to contact local gardeners to prune and thin your trees before they get too difficult to manage.
By pruning your plants, bushes, hedges and trees in the lead up to and during summer, you’ll facilitate better growth, improve the aesthetics of your garden and increase the sunlight streaming into your outdoor space.
As well as pruning some of the larger trees in your garden, hedges and smaller bushes can also be trimmed back. Having your hedges trimmed by local gardeners will ensure they remain healthy and neat. Having a well-maintained hedge during the summer can even act as a natural alternative to a perimeter fence and can improve the biodiversity of your garden.
Prepare Your Vegetable Patch and Fruit Trees
One of the many benefits of having a garden is the ability to grow your own produce. However, doing so does require some maintenance work.
If you have a fruit tree growing in your garden, the timing of pruning can greatly impact the quality and quantity of your crop. Particularly if your fruit tree is still in its infancy, it’s important to help it grow thick branches and canopies by pruning. The best time to prune fruit trees is in early spring before any significant budding. If your fruit trees are pruned properly in the first few years, they will provide much better fruit in higher quantities.
As well as preparing your trees for fruiting, the lead up to summer can also be spent preparing your vegetable patch. The first step in the process should be preparing your soil for planting. Loosen the soil, add compost, level the soil and water it adequately.
In the spring, plants like tomatoes and peppers should be incubated indoors whilst it’s still chilly. These can be moved outside once it gets hotter. However, you can begin planting vegetables like potatoes and onions outdoors straight away. When the summer does arrive, you’ll have a healthy and happy crop ready to eat.
Some General Upkeep To Consider
As well as some of the significant improvements covered here, there is also some more generalised upkeep you can enact in the lead-up to summer.
Weeding isn’t one of the most well-loved gardening projects in the world. However, it’s a necessary evil every gardener will have to go through to ensure their garden remains healthy. The lead up to summer is the best time to tackle this problem. During spring, remove any weeds from the garden and from in between the cracks in your paving. By de-weeding, you can ensure that your plants, rather than the weeds, consume the nutrients in the soil.
At the same time as de-weeding, you should also spend some time getting rid of any pests. Using natural solutions, like crushed eggshells for slugs, you can future-proof your plant life and vegetation.
Plant Summer Plants and Tidy Flower Beds
The blossoming of flowers is one of the most satisfying experiences of summer. It signifies the changing of the seasons and begins to bring colour and warmth into your garden. During the autumn, dead leaves and twigs will have fallen down and collected in your flower beds. With summer on the horizon, now is the time to clear that up ready for summer plants. Prepare the soil of your flowerbeds, tidy the borders up and plant flowers like lilies, dahlias and others that thrive in the warmer period.
By using high-quality compost, you can greatly improve the quality of your soil and, therefore, your plants. Begin making your own compost heap months in advance to ensure it’s ready for summer. If starting during the summer, your heap should be ready for the following summer. You can then recycle much of your garden and kitchen waste to add to the compost.
Clean, Treat and Varnish Your Furniture
Finally, summer poses an opportunity to give some of your garden furniture some TLC. Dust, wash, varnish and treat your furniture to ensure it’s in the best possible condition for the summer. The spring is the best time to make these small improvements to have your garden summer-ready for friends and family.
Our Local Gardeners Provide Specialist Tree Services in Sheffield and Beyond
Do you require the services of local gardeners at your property in Sheffield and the surrounding area? If so, look no further than Paul Day Specialists. We’re experts in the industry and provide a wide range of services for both domestic and commercial clients. Whether you need a tree felling or simple hedge maintenance, we can help.
If you want to get your garden ready for the summer, with services like hedge maintenance, landscaping and pruning, one of our specialists can be on hand to help.
To find out more about our services, please feel free to contact us today. You can call us on either 01909 519 675 or 07909 743 488. Alternatively, email us at paul.daycountryside@btinternet.com.
