Giving trees a lived-in look comes at a price

But be prepared – this quick fix does come at a price. A semi-mature tree growing in a giant, carrycot-style container is anything from 10ft to 30ft high with a well-formed canopy of

branches. Naturally, you can’t cram it in the back of your car, it has to be delivered by truck and must be lowered gently into place by a junior crane, but it really looks like a proper

tree from day one. Fair-sized trees are also much in demand as commemorative gifts for such important occasions as the opening of a new village hall or perhaps a big family anniversary. You

pay a good bit more than usual but you’re buying time – a semi-mature tree can save you five, 10 or more years in growing time. And they are available in various sizes with price tags to

match. Be prepared to pay several hundred pounds or, in the case of slow-growing trees, several thousand pounds. You can also buy instant hedging by the yard and fair-sized topiary ready to

plant. Search the internet for semi-mature trees and you’ll find dozens of suppliers. Semi-mature trees can be moved at any time of year if they’ve been grown in giant tubs but autumn is the

best time for planting them. Larger specimens need much more fussing over than the average garden centre-sized tree and when you’ve paid a lot of money you’ll want to keep it alive. Most

suppliers will do the planting for you when they deliver it and bring all the necessary kit with them, but if you do it yourself have the planting hole ready before the tree is delivered.

Dig the hole at least twice the size of the root ball and work in several barrow-loads of well-rotted organic matter. Fork two more barrow-loads into the topsoil that you’ve set aside to use

for replanting and mix in a generous dose of polymer gel, similar to that used for retaining moisture in tubs and hanging baskets. It’s also worth using mycorrhizal fungi, which you can

sometimes buy dry in sachets specially for tree planting. They work with the roots to help a new tree establish fast. When the tree arrives, work out which is its best side, as seen from the

house. Gently ease off the container, or carefully cut it away. With trees grown in a robust netting container, the roots grow through the sides so you can plant the lot intact. Just check

the planting depth is right – the top of the root ball should be an inch or two below the level of the soil surrounding it. Stake your tree securely, give it a tripod of three stakes or use

guy cables to prevent wind-rock for the first couple of years, then water and mulch well. Better still, put in an irrigation system or sink vertical pipes all around the tree so you can soak

water right down to root level. You’ll need to keep watering for a couple of years after planting. It’s only common sense to protect your investment but take care not to overwater and turn

the earth to mud. The supplier will be sure to offer advice and maybe even a guarantee. Now that really is worth having.