Replacement Planting  

A brief guide

If you are required by the Council to replace a protected tree, the law generally requires that the same specie should be planted, unless otherwise directed by the Council. If you wish to select a different specie, you should contact The Council with your proposals in writing to seek its agreement to this, unless this has already been given in its decision letter.

Given the extensive variety of trees available and that a tree may live and grow for any period between 40 and 4000 years, it is important to consider carefully what to plant.

Every specie and variety of tree can have different properties and individual specimens may exhibit different characteristics depending on their location and other environmental factors. Before choosing a tree, find out how it will develop by studying one of the many useful books on trees, consulting a good garden centre and, even better, looking at a mature example in a park or garden.

Practical points to consider when choosing include eventual height; spread; shape (e.g. upright, rounded, wide spreading, weeping, pyramidal etc); foliage size and density; rate of growth; aesthetic factors.

Bearing the above points in mind, the following brief lists are designed to help in selecting a new or replacement tree. Generic Latin names are in brackets, but individual species and varieties are not given, as the lists are not in any way intended to be comprehensive.

LIST A – Smaller, flowering trees for limited spaces:

Most species of Crabapples (Malus); Thorns (Crataegus); Snowy Mespil (Amelanchier); some flowering Cherries, Plums and Almonds (Prunus);Rowans and some Whitebeam (Sorbus); some Maples (Acer).

LIST B – Medium growing trees (some flowering conspicuously)

Some species of Whitebeam (Sorbus); Birch (Betula); Alder (Alnus); False Acacia (Robinia); Honey Locust (Gleditsia); Pear (Pyrus); some Maple species (e.g) Field Maple (Acer campestre); Snake Bark Maples (Acer capillipes, Acer davidii, etc.).

LIST C – Larger growing trees

Oak (Quercus); Beech (Fagus); Ash (Fraxinus); Horse Chestnut (Aesculus); Sweet Chestnut (Castanea); Lime (Tilia); some Maples (Acer); Plane (Platanus).

Planting notes

• Remember that tree trunks expand in girth as they grow. Do not plant any tree within 1 metre of a wall or fence.
• Take care to avoid future light obstruction or access problems by planting away from windows, doors, paths etc.
• Dig a hole larger than the root spread of the tree and break up the base and sides to allow the roots to develop.
• Add some slow-release fertiliser and some compost or manure to the soil used to backfill the hole.
• Do not plant the tree any deeper than the existing soil mark on its stem.
• A well-rammed stake secured to the tree with proper ties is essential to prevent the roots from moving as the tree is affected by wind. Therefore a short stake is quite suitable but half of its total length should be firmly below ground level.
• Ensure the soil used to backfill the pit is well-firmed by treading in. Drench the area with water after planting to settle the soil and help the tree adjust.
• Adjust ties and check the stake's firmness periodically after planting. It should be possible to remove a stake approximately 3-4 years after planting, by which time the roots should be well-established.