THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Native trees, if you need help deciding what you might like to plant…
1) Native Trees, Evergreen
– Box (Buxus Semperivens)
Dense wood, good in dry conditions, used for topiary.
– Holly (Ilex Aquifolium)
Dark green foliage, beautiful bark and trunk. Prize tree in winter. Male to female mix for berries.
– Yew (Taxus Baccata)
Topiary, trim once in August, thick hedge, grows faster than you think.
– Juniper (Juniperus Communis)
Dry and eat the berries, smell good or bad depending on your taste, slow growing.
– Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris)
Conical, red bark, needle leaves.
2) Native Trees, Deciduous
– Hawthorn (Crataegeus Monogyna)
Blossom in May, can eat the haws in Autumn (if eaten with the leaves, it is known as ‘bread and cheese…’)
– Hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus)
Trunk twists with age, great on clay soils, fresh green leaf.
– Elm (Ulmus Glabra)
Not often seen due to disease.
– Alder (Alnus Glutinosa)
Good near water, catkins in spring.
– Whitebeam (Sorbus Aria)
Fruits in autumn, leaves furry and silver below – which you notice when they are blowing in the wind.
– Service Tree (Sorbus Torminalis)
Rich red Autumn colours, smaller tree, fruits were used for brewing beer.
– Poplar (Populus Alba)
White underside of leaf, quick grower.
– Lime (Tilia Cordata, Tilia Platyphyllos)
Scented flowers in July, small, hard fruit.
– Buckthorn (Rhamnus Frangula, Rhamnus Cathartica)
Wet sites, red fruits in autumn, R. Cathartica is a smaller tree.
– Crab Apple (Malus Sylvestris)
Flowers in spring, fruits for jam in autumn, tough trees.
– Hazel (Corylus Avellana)
Fast growing, catkins and nuts.
– Oak (Quercus Rober, Quercus Petrea)
Good for wildlife, long-lived, acorns.
– Maple (Acer campestre)
Fast growing, good autumn colour.
– Birch (Betula Pubescens, Betula Pendula)
Silver and reddish bark, catkins, roots near the surface of the soil.
– Aspen (Populus Tremula)
Fluttering leaves, moist conditions, good autumn colour.
– Spindle (Euonymus Europaeus)
Great in Autumn for fruit and leaf, slightly ugly habit.
– Rowan (Sorbus Aucuparia)
Orange leaf in autumn, great berries!
– Dogwood (Cornus Sanguinea)
Dark red twigs in winter!
– Elder (Sambucus Nigra)
Fast growing, flowers for cordial or champagne, then berries later in the year.
– Ash (Fraxinus Excelsior)
Light airy canopy good for growing bulbs below.
– Cherry (Prunus Padus, Prunus Avium)
Blossom, liable to get diseased – we would rather grow cherry trees for their fruit.
– Blackthorn (Prunus Spinosa)
Massive thorns! Great berries for sloe gin.
– Willow (Salix Caprea, Salix Alba, Salix Fragilis, Salix Triandra, Salix Pentandra)
Moist soils, pollard in spring, shiny foliage.
– Strawberry Tree (Arbutus Unedo)
Red, peeling bark, found in Ireland, deep red fruits.
We hope this list of native trees helps. Although ‘native’ is open to debate… Where Do Camels Belong?: The story and science of invasive species
Fine news for beekeepers today – a total ban on bee-harming pesticides has been announced! To celebrate, here is a list of plants we recommend as being brilliant for the bees: Helenium Sedum Echium vulgare Marjoram or Oregano Eupatorium (common name? Joe Pye-Weed. But don’t let that put you off!) Borage Nepeta Veronicastrum Teucrium Bonus plants for shady spots? Try hellebore, lamium and pulmonaria. Looking for a shrub to plant near your apiary? Phillyrea ought to do it. Although it is difficult to get hold of…. we are working on making it more available though, so check back with Modern …
Hey Modern Minters, we have been busy already this year – so busy! Here is some of the topiary work we love doing so much…. A post shared by ModernMint (@modernmintshop) on Apr 5, 2018 at 9:48am PDT Whilst evenings (and some afternoons!) have been spent travelling the country giving garden talks to clubs, horticultural societies, WI’s and U3A’s. This is all fabulous fun but it has meant: We have not been consistent with our mailing list I have not finished the book ‘Helping The Honeybee’ I was due to get to the publisher by the end of February There …
This week I gave a talk – Helping The Honeybee – to the lovely beekeeping group at Southend on Sea. Here are some notes for those who didn’t have a chance to write down some of the ideas we spoke about and shared…. The Top Plants For Bees Helenium Sedum Echium Marjoram (which you will find in your seedballs) Oregano Eupatorium, also known as Joe Pye-Weed Borage Nepeta Veronicaastrum Teucrium Phillyrea If you want a hedge for around your apiary, you will not go too far wrong with planting the amazing, tough as old boots, Phillyrea. Read plenty more about …