What is this tree???

Mulla · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 30 Oct 2014 Posts: 4

Hi there. New to the site. Buying a new house with a large garden. Blank canvas and I am looking for some tips.
There is a tree outside my current home which I love. Can anyone tell me what it is??

Sive · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:46 am Post subject:

A close up photo of a few leaves would be good, please.....I'm wondering could it be a type of hornbeam ?

tagwex · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 9:58 am Post subject:

It does indeed look like a Hornbeam, quite a common tree to be included in housing estates because of their compact nature, especially around NW Carlow town!!!

Greengage · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 4:46 pm Post subject:

Looks like Carpinus betulus ‘Frans Fontaine’

Mulla · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 30 Oct 2014 Posts: 4

Mulla · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 30 Oct 2014 Posts: 4

tagwex · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:30 pm Post subject:

Hahaaa. Not too far from you. Know the area.

Liara_Tsoni · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2014 12:56 pm Post subject:

Beech has also similar leaves. But I supposed it has been decided that it is hornbeam Smile

Greengage · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2014 5:44 pm Post subject:

Poor mans beech

Good guy · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 12:38 am Post subject:

Likes wetter ground which beech will not tolerate.

phelim_d · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2014 1:55 pm Post subject:

Moving off the tree identification and back to your choice of tree, here are a few tips I would give-
1) careful not to be dceived with a small sapling- it can grow to 30m high.
2) Plant away from fences and walls- imagine the tree at full size.
3) think of shade in the garden and dried out grass under a tree.
4) tink of colour and trees that have nice bark, foliage etc.
5) native trees are much preferred by nature (insects and burds) to non native. Sycamore is not a native for instance and birch trees though smaller are much preferred.
6) if you want many trees go to a nursery as apposed to a gdn centre- saves money an can make a large project affordable where many trees are involved.
7) if it goes pear shaped, just emove it and start again...

Good guy · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2014 3:46 pm Post subject:

I absolutely agree with phelim_d.
Hornbeam is much too large a tree to be allowed to grow to full size in all but exceptionally large gardens - could be good as a hedge, though, if your ground is on the wet side. There are many good garden-scale trees to choose from.
In my own garden I have 3 silver birches, 1 larch (on the boundary), 2 hawthorns, 2 rowans, 2 hollys, a Korean pine, 2 crab apples, 1 Acer griseum, 1 Acer Crimson King. Only the larch is a forest-size tree; between them, the rest provide lots of year round interest and a variety of habitats. Over the years I have removed quite a few trees that either didn't do well, outgrew their space or were past their best. The garden is 1970s suburban - probably less than 1\4 acre.