A guide to tree sizes

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.

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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

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  • 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.

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