The tulip tree has been putting on a spectacular show of leaf colour in recent weeks. The autumn colour of the leaves is a bright butter-yellow and practically all the leaves change colour at the same time, going from green to yellow. The tree is large, easily the size of a full-grown ash or oak tree. When it changes all of its foliage to yellow, the effect is large in scale.

No other tree can make a colour show of this size, except perhaps poplar or aspen, although these are inclined to start losing some of the leaves before they have all changed colour. Norway maple comes close, but it has more orange and red tints, while the tulip tree is pure yellow.

It is known as a tulip tree because of the tulip-like flowers that appear on the branches in summer. These flowers are well-described, but they are also like magnolia and this tree is part of the magnolia family.

The botanical name is Liriodendron tulipiferum, which means lily tree in Greek and it can be said that the flowers are lily-like too.

The second part of the name means tulip-maker, which is also appropriate. The flowers are held upright on the branches, the petals are green and orange-yellow, the top of the petals being light green and the base turning pale orange. The centre of the flower is filled with the cream stamens and other fertile parts of the flower.

The flowers appear only on fairly mature trees, about 20 years and older, sometimes later on trees that are growing very rapidly, earlier on those that are growing more slowly on lighter soil.

Being light green and pale orange, the flowers are hardly noticeable, tucked away amid the foliage. But they are pretty, though often carried quite high up on the tree and hard to access.

The leaves of liriodendron are very distinctive. The end of the leaf is cut-off square, like it was snipped off. The shape is described as saddle-like. The branches are leafy with lots of these large leaves to 15cm across.

The tree forms a conical shape when young and gets broader at the top as it ages. Because it is usually planted as a specimen tree in a garden, it is usually given space and forms the broad conical shape with masses of branches like a big bush.

However, if it is grown with other trees for competition, it will form a big upright trunk, free of branches or largely free of them.

The tree reaches a great height, well over 20m. In its homeland of eastern North America it can reach over 30 metres tall. The liriodendron tree of greatest girth in Ireland is over 6.7m round at 1.1m above soil level.

By any standard, the tulip tree is a large tree and that is the reason it is not for every garden. It is likely to have a better chance in a country garden where space is more likely to be available. It likes good, fertile soil, slightly acidic if possible and moist, but well-drained. It does not like summer drought, but it equally does badly in ground that gets wet in winter. If it is grown as a specimen, it can have lower branches pruned out when young to encourage the development of a clear stem. It is reasonably available, and certainly not rare, and can be planted any time, but best when its distinctive and colourful leaves have fallen.

Storing cooking apples

The apple variety Bramley’s Seedling is by far the most popular cooking apple variety. It has the right qualities of tartness and white flesh that breaks down for use as a traditional cooking variety, lending itself to many uses in the kitchen. It is a very vigorous variety and very reliable, as it crops each year. It ripens late and stores very well. The apples can be used from late August and they last in store until late April. An old fridge is a good way to store them or pack them into plastic bags, about 2kg or 3kg in each, and only fold the top of the bag, do not seal it as this can give rise to off-flavours. Place the bags in a cool shed and watch for vermin.

Trees, shrubs & roses

Plant bare-root deciduous trees, hedging and shrubs during dry weather. Don’t plant into very wet ground or into planting holes that fill with water, because the wet conditions cause the roots to rot. All kinds of pot-grown trees and shrubs can also be planted. Young trees may need to be staked.

Flowers

Spring bulbs should be in the ground by now, but can still be planted. Tulips and alliums react less badly to late planting. Bedding plants for spring colour should be put in now, if not already done. Lift dahlias, begonias and gladioli in frosty localities to prevent damage, or cover them with soil or sand.

Fruit, vegetables & herbs

Plant new fruit trees and bushes in good soil and weather conditions. Dig over vegetable ground, removing old crops. Store vegetables that can be overwintered in a pit or shed. Control weeds over areas of ground that will be dug over later. Spread compost before digging it in. Tidy up herb plants.

Lawns

Sulphate of iron or lawn sand can still be used to kill moss. Otherwise, moss will grow strongly during the damp months. Occasional mowing in winter is a good idea if the soil is not too wet. Grass tends to grow a little over winter and an occasional mowing will keep it right. Make sure to trim edges too.

Greenhouse and house plants

Remove all greenhouse debris, old leaves and dead plants to reduce grey mould disease, and ventilate occasionally. Water very little during the winter month to reduce the risk further. Set up a greenhouse frost protection heater to protect tender plants, such as lantana, fuchsias and geraniums.