Trees help to form the structure of the land we live on. They filter the air, feed the soil, provide a safe haven for wildlife and provide a source food. In our gardens we can plant ornamental trees for leaf colour and flowers or fruit trees for those delicious fresh fruits, berries and nuts. Our trees are selected to grow in North Devon, with a range of heights and shapes to suit your needs.
Selection Tips
A tree is a long-term project which will usually out live the person who plants it, so some thought should go into its selection.Some points to consider are:
- Why do you want the tree, screening, fruits, blossom or leaves
- How tall do you want the tree to get to
- What shape of tree do you require, column, goblet or umbrella
- Do you require a tree that is deciduous or evergreen
- Is the site exposed to winds, if so what direction
- Is the soil dry or moist
- What type of soil do you have. Clay, sandy etc
Planting Tips
Container trees can be planted at any time of the year, but establish best when planted during the autumn. Our tips on how to plant a container tree will help your tree get off to the best possible start in life.
- Dig a hole twice the size of the pot and break up the soil at the bottom of the hole.
- Thoroughly soak the tree in a bucket of water for an hour before planting
- Add compost and root grow microryzonal granules to the hole
- Remove the tree from the pot and place in the hole so that the top of the soil from the pot is about an inch below ground level. Back fill with a mix of compost and soil and firm well so there are no air pockets.
- If the tree is in an exposed site, then use a stake and tie to keep it steady for the first few years; place the stake on the westerly side.
- If there is any danger of rabbits or deer then put a guard round the trunk or they may strip the bark and harm the tree. These also help to protect from strimmer damage
- Water the tree well
- Check the tree stake and tie periodically to see that it is not to tight around the trunk causing damage
Fruit Trees
Fruit trees are beautiful and rewarding to plant in our gardens. They provide early season flowers, delicious fruits and then autumn leaf colour as well as a habitat for bees & pollinators.
ORNAMENTAL TREES
Ornamental trees provide flowers & leaves and some have attractive bark. They will provide screening of buildings and aid with sound absorption, as well as providing habitat for wildlife.
Hedging
Hedges form boundaries within or around your property. They are an excellent way of creating a habitat for all forms of wild life. Hedges can be evergreen or deciduous with an array of leaf colour and flowers.
Some of the Trees to plant in the winter, available at our nursery site in Barnstaple.
Visit our Barnstaple nursery to see our full range of trees
Cercis Forest pansy
| Prune after flowering | |
| Leaf colour | Purple |
| Prefers full sun | |
| Drought tolerant | |
| Flowering month | May |
| Chalk tolerant | |
| Autumn colour | |
| Needs well-draining site | |
| Size | Small |
Betula utilis var. jacquemontii
| Leaf colour | Yellow / Green |
| Wet tolerant | |
| Leaf colour | Yellow Green |
| Prefers acid soil | |
| Drought tolerant | |
| Tree shape | Standard |
| Autumn colour | |
| Size | Medium |
| Attractive bark Do not prune | |
Prunus Amanogawa
| Tree shape | Upright |
| Scented flowers | |
| Chalk tolerant | |
| Leaf colour | Green |
| Autumn colour | |
| Flowering month | April |
| Do not prune | |
| Size | Small |
Plum Victoria
| Uses | Cooking |
| Pollination group | Pollination group 3 |
| Self-fertility | Self-fertile |
| Picking month | August |
| Uses | Eating |
| Any UK district | |
Acer platanoides 'Crimson King'
| Leaf colour | Purple |
| Tree shape | Standard |
| Chalk tolerant | |
| Autumn colour | |
| Size | Medium |
| Replacement prune | |
| Flowering month | April |
| Open space planting | |
malus candymint
| Scented flowers | |
| Tree shape | Weeping |
| Leaf colour | Green |
| Autumn colour | |
| Replacement prune | |
| Flowering month | April |
| Size | Small |
| Growth rate | Slow |
About Us
A leading local family run Garden Centre, in Barnstaple, North Devon which produces an extensive range of herbaceous perennials, bedding and vegetable plants, trees, shrubs, roses and clematis along with delicious fresh fruit and vegetables. 90% of these are grown on site using the skill and experience gained over 30 years of growing for the local coastal & moorland environment.
Gardeners delight nursery have won a number of awards including :- silver guilt awards at : Hampton Court palace garden festival 2024 , RHS Malvern Show 2024, Best in show at RHS Rosemoor 2024 Twice featured on BBC's Gardeners World We will be showing at the 2025 Chelsea Flower show .