Angus newbie saying hello!

[kit-e-kate]

Hi all! My husband and i have just bought a fabulous "fixer-upper" just outside carnoustie. The garden will be amazing i'm sure (once we've figured out what on earth we're doing with it!) Its our first garden, and all i really know is that i'd like a greenhouse at the far end and some sort of family apple tree. Anyone got any good suggestions for newbie gardeners?

I've (hopefully) attached a photo of how it is at the mo! Its south facing. We're thinking of getting rid of the conifer and the two big trees, and the ivy covered mess at the end (which is actually two dead trees covered with weird ivy).

This is the view to the left


: )

[Shirley]

Helloooooo!!

Looks like you've got a great place to play with there. Do you want to grow veggies or flowers in your garden?

[red]

welcome

[invisiblepiper]

Don#t know how near the sea you are - but take care to get salt resistant plants. Take a nosey around neighbouring plots!
And welcome!

[Millymollymandy]

Hello and welcome!

Much as I hate to see trees chopped down, in a small garden when you need all the light you can get I'd take out most of those trees if I were you. The conifers will only get bigger! Much better to get an apple which will be useful to you but make sure you check what size rootstock it is grafted onto as you don't want a huge one in that space - also you really need two apples trees for pollination unless one of your neighbours has one very close by.

My other bit of advice would be to get rid of the dead trees with the ivy in during the winter because by late winter/early spring the birds will be thinking of nesting and that's good habitat for them and I'd hate to see their nests disturbed.

Anyway good luck with it all - you must be very excited!

[StripyPixieSocks]

Hello

[kit-e-kate]

Thanks all! Yeah, i think its a shame to cut trees down too, but they really are too big, i think they are a leftover from when our house was first built and had a huge garden (now it's split into four gardens and has two new build houses in it!)

I've been looking at rootstock sizes, can anyone tell me where i can find an explanation of what the codes indicate?

And has anyone got a family apple tree? I was hoping that i could get one and only need that one. I think they have different types of apple tree grafted together to pollinate one another? Any thoughts?

Thanks!
Kate : )

[Millymollymandy]

Sorry - I hadn't heard of a 'family apple' tree so didn't know what you meant. I have looked it up and the few nuseries I noticed selling them stated what size of rootstock the trees they were selling had.

Here's a link to common UK apple rootstock sizes:

http://www.brogdale.org/chooserootstock.html

Small trees don't necessarily mean less of a crop because they are much easier to prune and to pick the fruit!

[Andy Hamilton]

Well I have learnt something there, family apple tree. It makes perfect sense cheers for that and welcome to the forum.

[kit-e-kate]

Here's a link to common UK apple rootstock sizes:

http://www.brogdale.org/chooserootstock.html

Perfect! Just what i was after! Thanks! : )

[Annpan]

I have read (though I have never done it myself) it is relatively easy to graft a new branch on to an existing apple tree, thereby making your own family tree... I am thinking about doing it myself, so I can have lots of interesting varieties - I'd guess you just need someone else's prunings for that.... maybe

[MuddyWitch]

Watcha Angus,

A good nursery will be able to give you advice about which trees will be most sutable for your local growing conditions. As you are only going to plant the one tree I would recommend going to a fruit tree specialist. Then you can talk to the experts about your own personal requirements. They will also explain the various rootstock sizings for you & may even be able to show you a full grown tree to put it into perspective!

MW

[Sally Jane]

Hello!
Your enthusiasm shines through your whole post, and it's lovely!

As you will have found already, this site is full of friendly, helpful folk and their advice and support has been invaluable in the few short weeks I've been a member.

I hope you get as much out of it as I am doing, and have some fun along the way.