Using trees

Jenny and John prize crab apple trees for their almost year-round interest, and have used several in differentx , which was originally staked and trained along canes that could be removed once the trees grew, to give a sense of enclosure. Its deep-red buds and blossom are followed by luscious red fruits that are held on the tree through autumn and winter. “The birds leave them until January or February so they bring a lot of colour,” says John. x ‘Golden Hornet’, which is used around the house, has white blossom followed by bright-yellow fruits in autumn. In midsummer its lush healthy foliage becomes a verdant feature and echoes the architectural details of the building. It’s tied in along metal training bars designed by John. “They are pretty much trouble free. I usually give them a general feed in the spring,” says Jenny. “They do need to be trimmed fairly often to keep them neat.”