In Swan Hill, a good tree is one of the best things you can put in your garden. Advanced trees arrive already established, ready to shade your home and garden from the day they go in.
A seedling planted today will become a beautiful tree eventually. But eventually is a long way off when you're sweating through a Swan Hill summer, or looking at a new garden that's still bare.
Advanced trees are established trees: already trained, already shaped and well on their way. You plant them, water them in, and the garden changes straight away.
Our advanced trees for sale are out in the yard. Come and walk among them and find the one that suits your space.
"Swan Hill gets the kind of summers where shade isn't a luxury. It's what makes the difference between a garden you actually use and one you avoid from November to March."
Swan Hill has one of Victoria's toughest climates: hot, dry summers and frosty winters. A tree here gives you shelter and shade, and it's a real investment in how liveable your home is.
Established shade over walls and windows can make a home noticeably cooler inside on a hot day, and turns an outdoor area you avoid into one you use.
Shading walls and windows in summer cuts the heat load on your home. Well-placed trees can reduce the energy a household uses for heating and cooling by up to 25 per cent.
Deciduous trees shade the house through summer, then drop their leaves so the low winter sun can warm it. They work with the seasons.
Spring blossom, a cool summer canopy, autumn colour and a strong winter shape. A well-chosen tree becomes the centre of the garden.
A mature tree adds character and kerb appeal to a home, and a sense of permanence that new planting can't give you overnight.
Trees give food and shelter to local birds and insects. In the Mallee, where native habitat has shrunk over generations, every tree helps.
In Swan Hill, deciduous trees make the most sense. They give the most shade when you need it, then let the winter sun through. Mop tops, crepe myrtles, forest pansies and gleditsias all work this way, and Peta-Lyn and John can help you pick the right one for your aspect and space.
Every tree we stock is picked for Swan Hill's summers, winters and soils. The range changes with the seasons, so pop in or call to see what's in the yard right now.
A Swan Hill favouriteSmall shade tree
Robinia pseudoacacia 'Umbraculifera'
The mop top tree is one of Swan Hill's best-loved ornamentals, and for good reason. Its neat, dome-shaped canopy gives soft, dappled shade without taking over a small garden. Once established it handles drought, frost and the worst of our summers. Perfect for courtyards, driveways and garden beds.
From $55. Stock varies, so call to confirm.
Loves the heatFlowering tree
Lagerstroemia indica
One of the best choices for our hot, dry climate. Crepe myrtles grow best in full sun and long, hot summers, which is exactly what Swan Hill gives them. You get a big show of late summer flowers in pink, red, white or purple, peeling bark and bright autumn colour. Drought tolerant once established.
Showpiece foliageSmall tree
Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'
One of the most eye-catching small trees you can plant. Heart-shaped burgundy-purple leaves come out in spring with masses of deep pink blossom, then turn through red, apricot and gold in autumn. Plant it where it gets some afternoon shade, away from our fiercest summer heat.
From $80. Limited stock, so pop in to see.
Drought hardyLight canopy
Gleditsia triacanthos
A Mallee standout. Its open, feathery canopy in lime green or golden yellow casts light, dappled shade, so you get the feel of a tree without blocking out the sky. Hardy, drought tolerant and fast growing once established. Golden varieties like 'Sunburst' look striking against a blue summer sky.
Late spring flowersSpreading shade tree
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Few sights beat a jacaranda in full flower, with masses of lavender-blue blooms in late spring. Over time it grows into a broad, spreading shade tree, and an advanced tree gives you that feature much sooner than a seedling would. Young trees are frost tender, so give them a sheltered spot for their first few winters.
Always changingIn the yard
Our advanced tree range changes with the seasons. We also stock Chinese elm, ornamental pear, olive and other trees suited to the Mallee. Pop in, walk the yard and talk to Peta-Lyn or John about what's right for your space.
An advanced tree is a commitment that you'll enjoy for years, so it's worth getting right. Peta-Lyn and John have spent over 45 years growing and watching trees in Swan Hill's climate. They know which handle the heat and frost, which do well in sandy or salty soil, and which need some afternoon protection.
Where does the afternoon sun hit? That's where a deciduous tree does the most work, shading the house in summer and letting the winter warmth through.
Sandy, clay, salty: Swan Hill has them all. Some trees are forgiving and others aren't, so we'll ask about your conditions before we recommend anything.
An advanced tree still has to grow its roots into new ground. Deep, infrequent watering through its first Mallee summer is critical. After that you can ease off.
A deep layer of mulch over the root zone holds moisture and keeps the soil cooler, and makes a real difference to how well a new tree settles in.
An advanced tree has been grown in a container, or root-balled, for several years, so it has a bigger root system and a stronger trunk before it's sold. It has already come through the most fragile years of its life, so it settles in quickly instead of spending years getting established.
A mop top is a robinia, Robinia pseudoacacia 'Umbraculifera', with a neat, round, dome-shaped canopy on a single trunk. It's deciduous, handles drought and frost once established, and gives dappled shade without taking over a small garden, which is why it's a Swan Hill favourite for courtyards and driveways.
Yes, if you choose the right ones. We pick advanced trees that handle our heat, dry spells and winter frosts. Mop tops, crepe myrtles, gleditsias and olives are all proven in the Mallee. Give them plenty of water through their first summer while the roots settle in. After that, most need much less looking after.
Water deeply and less often, rather than a little and often, so the roots grow down to the moisture further below. A good soaking two to three times a week through the first summer, with a thick layer of mulch, makes a big difference. Tell us which tree you're planting and we'll give you advice for that one.
Autumn, March to May, is the best window. The worst of the heat is over, the soil is still warm enough for roots to grow, and the tree has the whole cool season to settle in before its first summer. Spring works too, but you'll need to keep a closer eye on watering as it warms up. We stock advanced trees all year.
That's what we're here for. Peta-Lyn and John have been growing trees in Swan Hill for over 45 years, and they're happy to talk through your space, soil, aspect and what you want the tree to do. Just come in, no appointment needed. We're open 7 days, and if we haven't got what you're after, we'll do our utmost to track it down.
Our advanced trees are in the yard. Walk among them, ask us anything and find the one that's right for your space. Stock changes regularly, so there's often something new.