Whips
This is the trade term for single stems 60-80cm high, without side shoots.
- Pros: The cheapest way to purchase trees for your garden
- Easiest/quickest plants to establish
- No staking required
- Produces a root system that is secure and supportive
- Cons: requires correct training and trimming, it takes years to develop a branching “head”.
The plants usually cost between £1.50-£5.00.
Maidens
A slender trunk that has several side shoots on the top. It is 80-120cm high.
- Pro: A good choice for those who want to train their own trees
- Benefit: Less time and skills needed
- Con: Still needs to be given time before it can become a garden tree
The plants are about two years old, and cost between £10 and £15.
Standard
Trees with a well-shaped trunk and branching “head” that are usually 1.8m high.
- Pros: The most cost-effective method to purchase a tree
- Fruit or flowers will appear in the first or second years after planting
- Con: requires staking
Standards are typically three to five years old and range in price from £20-£40.
Semi-mature
This is the largest size. Available in single or multi-stemmed natural forms, or as trained shapes such as lollipop tree, espaliers and pleached. For Semi Mature Trees For Sale, visit www.naturefirst.co.uk/semi-mature-trees
- Pro: Instant results
- Pro: Great for adding a sense of maturity and scale to the garden
- Cons: you may need to lift the plant with special equipment
- Needs prolonged care to establish roots
- Cons: Plants may “sit” for a few seasons without producing much new growth on the top.
Semi-mature trees can cost up to £50 and are between six and ten years old.