IN THE GARDEN
backfill the hole; firm the soil to remove air pockets around the roots; then water again to help firm the tree in place and ensure the roots are in contact with the soil. Once planted, check soil moisture levels frequently and water once the soil has dried out. If there are dry summers in the first three years, you may need to apply four to six watering cans of water weekly. To grow a potted specimen, choose a container with plenty of drainage holes that’s approximately twice the width of the root ball of your chosen tree, add compost to the pot and place your tree on top of this, making sure that the upper roots are level with the ultimate compost level, allowing space to apply water – and then follow the steps above. Remember, though: pot-grown plants dry out more quickly than those in the ground and will benefit from the replacement of the top layer of compost each spring, or the addition of a liquid fertiliser at regular intervals, to ensure the tree has access to nutrients for healthy growth. When choosing your tree, be sure to match it to the conditions in your garden. There’s no point in planting a moisture- loving weeping willow ( Salix babylonica )
Gardening jobs for November
1. Plant a tree!
2. Mulch borders with compost, wood chips or gravel to preserve moisture and suppress weeds. 3. Plant tulip bulbs now that the weather has cooled. 4. Plant winter-flowering plants such as pansies, cyclamen and polyanthus. 5. Sow sweet pea seeds indoors, and grow them in a cold and frost-free place as soon as they germinate.
FLORA POINTS Malus trilobata , or Lebanese wild apple, which produces attractive flowers before it fruits, would suit a bigger garden in a well-drained, gritty site, or in squeezing a cedar of Lebanon ( Cedrus libani ) into a 4m² front garden – as neither will survive to maturity. But, if you choose carefully and if you nurture well, you will be able to enjoy these
efforts for many years to come, while also knowing that planting your tree has wider- reaching benefits.
Sally Petitt is head of horticulture at Cambridge University Botanic Garden
CHERRY ON TOP Prunus x yedoensis , or Yoshino cherry, has spectacular blossom
82 NOVEMBER 2026 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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