Why not both?

I'm always seeing that layering different materials of slightly different colors or shapes to create grass, trees etc. seem to enhance a scene. Nature isn't black or white. It's "shades of shades of shades".

Leaves are typically darker on the bottom, hence I would use at least two colors for making trees. So for trees I'd lay on some green foam from the bottom onto the branches first. Followed by a lighter green than the "bottom" green and apply it from the top to cover the top of the branches. Follow up on top with some Noch leaves in a similar color as the top foam color.

I use foam,

for background trees and leaves or trees up front, they look better.

It depends

It depends on what kind of trees you're talking about.

For deciduous trees, also known as "broadleaf trees" (as opposed to conifers), then I always recommend using coarse ground foam to better simulate the proper texture for the leaves.

For conifers, the needles are better represented by fine ground foam.

But as things have progressed, for the larger scales (HO and above), we have better textures available. For broadleaf trees, the "Noch leaves" work quite well if the leaves are larger. For trees with smaller leaves, such as locust or willow, the coarse ground foam still works best.

For conifers, static grass also does a great job simulating the pointy texture of needles, especially for pines with longer needles.

Thanks

Thanks for the feedback. 

I use static grass for pine trees.....

.....but as secondary (6mm) and tertiary (2mm) branches, sprayed light grey, Then fine ground foam for needles. I’ve been very happy with the results 

I tested both

I tested both Scenic Express "SuperLeaf" material (which is pretty similar to the Noch product) and fine turf ground foam from Woodland Scenics for depicting blackberry bushes (which have pretty broad leaves) and ultimately preferred the fine foam. I liked the look of both, but for me in this context I felt the extra "texture" associated with the SuperLeaf drew my eye too strongly. Also, they would be pretty big-sized leaves in HO scale (not crazy big, but big). The fine turf is 180-degrees away from this but I liked the impressionistic, less visually "noisy" effect it creates and it draws less attention to what is just a background bush. 

The photos aren't all that great but hopefully you can see the contrast in texture (the picture at bottom is SuperLeaf). For me it was very helpful to look at both and compare. Your usage and so your decision may well differ from mine! 

@ Karl

Good observation on the “visual noise”.  

Maybe something you would want for foreground trees but not general background.

Joe

Karl's Trial

Karl presents a nice photo comparison of the two textures.  But I see that as an opportunity for even more realistic scenery by grouping different bushes with those different textures.  The most realistic scenes I've seen use that technique extensively.

Don't use fine ground foam for deciduous trees

Using a mix

Using turf fine & coarse to fill and then apply colored saw dust and Noch leaves

See hereby example on dry 'Taxus Bacata' for deciduous trees.

Ps. The scene is not finished and needs more details. But it shows a mix of trees on this part of 'The AnneliesVille RR' I'm working on.

Hope you enjoy !

Happy model railroading, Filip

@filip... how do you keep dry leaves ON the branches

keep dry leaves on the branches

Hi Peter,

All the foam and artificial leaves and glue stick together and form almost a clump. No need to paint any thing.

So even if it disintegrates over time just make a new one. In the end, dust on the layout is a worse enemy !

Right: a mix of colors adds shade variation.

Happy railroading

Filip

..of course, Yew is the One plant I DON'T have!

So, if I get a chance, I'll get some to try from a neighbor... Meanwhile, my boxwood needs a pruning.

To the (outdoor) landscape I go...

Yew should be careful

I had no idea what the plant was by taxonomic name, so I looked it up.  Definitely a 'wash your hands after handling' deal, especially if you're collecting fresh twigs for drying.

Here I thought hemlock was nasty...

Tim B.

Preserving plant material

You can boil up (gently) these armatures in simple non-toxic glycerine.  Allow to soak a day or so after heating, then place on paper to drain.  The armature will remain flexible and will take adhesive/hair spray fixers etc.

@Tim - re: handling plants

I think the hemlock you're thinking of is the evergreen, resembling the yew mentioned. 

That one is not the hemlock of Aristotle history... that one's an herb... and deadly.  The North American evergreen is not.  Still, if handling plants in bulk, or unfamiliar to you, it helps to do a wee bit of research and Know!

My results

Reviving an old thread, but thought I’d add my results. I recently made some trees with either ground foam or Noch leaves. 
 

Natural tree armature with Static grass and ground foam.

Natural tree armature with Noch leaves.

I think I prefer the leaves, but they honestly ended up looking very similar. More in my recent blog posting - Landscaping - A Little Bit Every Day

Greg

I model in O scale and use foam and leaf

 I use Leaf materials and ground foam to vary the textures, then I paint them with spray can paint, dark sprayed up and light sprayed down.