Bough Wow! How to give an instant appeal to your garden with a clever use of trees

TREES are a must-have in any garden – and with National Tree Week starting on November 26 there’s no better time to get planting…

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Laburnum can create a floral tunnel to link different parts of the garden. Choose the free-flowering variety Vossii, which produces long yellow flowers in June and few of the poisonous seeds.

EXPERT TIP: If laburnum is trained to make a tunnel, pruning is vital to keep the growth in order and encourage flower buds, rather than more foliage.

HOW MUCH? £16.95 from Whispering Tree Nurseries (01366 388752, www.whispering-trees.co.uk).

TREE HOUSE

Kids love dens and a tree house is the ultimate hideaway. If sturdily built, they can also be a fabulous place for adults to read, write and dream.

EXPERT TIP: You’ll need a stout tree with at least two branches spreading in a V-shape from the trunk to support the tree house corners. Otherwise, you’ll need to build it on a platform suspended between two trees and two posts.

HOW MUCH? A custom-made luxury tree house costs from £2,500 from Toys For Boys (01869 278805, www.treeadventures.co.uk).

BIRDS

By putting up a nest box you can help birds and get pleasure from seeing them set up home. If you fix them to trees where birds like to perch they may also be used as a winter roost.

EXPERT TIP: Nest boxes are best put up from August to February. Site them in a quiet part of the garden sheltered from wind, rain and sun. Installing a bird box CCTV camera will add to your enjoyment!

HOW MUCH? Nest box and camera kit £69.95 (01736 756277, www.handykam.com).

CREEPERS

AS many trees have long periods where they provide little interest, it makes sense to brighten them up with flowering climbers. Clematis is a perfect choice.

EXPERT TIP: Plant the clematis away from the direct base of the tree to avoid competition for moisture and nutrients.

HOW MUCH? Four clematis £17 (0844 557 1850, www. vanmeuwen.co.uk).