VARIEGATED POPLAR

Most Poplar trees grow too large for a small garden. Some can grow to 80 ft (25m) in just 20 years and their root systems can damage drains and can undermine foundations if they are planted too close to the house. Thankfully the variegated poplar (Populus candicansAurora) isn’t so vigorous. They can grow up to 30 ft (10m) though. They can grow in full sun or semi shade in most soils around the peninsula. I’ve noticed this year in particular that most of the trees (or sometimes shrubs) have scorched leaves, I don’t think this is any cause for concern as it looks to me that it has been caused by the storm we had a couple of weeks ago. If you want to keep the tree in shape then now is the time to cut out all the dead wood and prune back the branches. Don’t do it in winter or spring as the tree may get a fungal disease. If you fancy increasing your stock they are easily grown from cuttings now or by digging up and replanting the suckers that will appear in early spring around the tree.

Horticultural.