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Welcome to the ultimate beginner gardening and garden design forum! Where no gardening question is too silly or obvious. This online gardening forum is run by Lee Burkhill, the Garden Ninja from BBC 1's Garden Rescue and a trusted group of experienced gardeners.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert gardener, it's a safe place to ask garden-related questions for garden design or planting. If you have a problem in your garden or need help, this is the Garden Forum for you!
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Hi,
Thanks for your question its a really good question!
Choosing the right tree for any garden, taking into account its ultimate size and spread is a really smart way to choose plants. You wouldn't believe how many gardeners either avoid trees thinking they will all take over or choose the wrong tree, regret it and then avoid trees forever. All of which can be avoided if you do a bit of plant research which I'm so glad you're doing!!
If you've read my blog you will already know that every garden should have at least one tree. They offer privacy, a home for wildlife, shade, can reduce flood risks and help provide year-round interest to the garden. There really is a tree for every sized garden so let's take a look at my top 5 to help you get started!
1. Himalayan Birch - Betula pendula 'Fastigata'
The quick answer is this tree will be absolutely fine for a small garden if you choose the fastigiate version. This means it grows tall and thin rather than wide and broad. I've grown this specimen in the Exploding Atom Garden and it is well behaved and adds height without taking up bulk. See the photo below!
Betula utilis var. jacquemontii is also a good choice especially if chosen as a multi stem tree. This reduces the overall vigoir of the growing height, as its spread over many branches so can be useful in small garden. Though it's much wider than the fastigoiate version.
2. Prunus serrula - Tibettan Cherry Tree
A wonderful tree for its bark alone in the winter. This well-behaved tree has the RHS Award of Merit. A multistem or even standard shaped tree will be fine in a smaller plot and it is a real show stopper of a tree with seasons of interest.
3. Amellanchier lamarckii - Snowy mespilus
This is the garden designers secret weapon when it comes to small garden trees. It offers 3 if not 4 seasons of interest, especially in a multi stem format. Berries for the birds in Summer. Autumn colour changing leaves. Then in spring you get gorgeous pink blossom. Beautiful.
4. Malus - Apple trees on the right root stock
Apple trees make wonderful small garden specimens. This is because you can pick the rootstock depending on the vigour and size of the tree you want. Check out my guide to fruit tree grafting to see the different sizes. Fruit trees provide valuable pollen for wildlife and give you back fruit in return and super easy to prune too!
5.Sorbus 'Joseph Rock' - Mountain Ash
The entire Sorbus genus make great trees for smaller gardens. Super fuss-free. Tolerant of all sorts of crappy soils these trees offer light shade which is dappled along with berries for birds. They also have a lot of folklore behind them in keeping away evil spirits. So they can be a good choice is you have a few enemies or have thrown shade at someone recently! 😉
Lastly check out this makeover video where a few of the above have been used. It will help show you them in situ!
Hopefully, that helps you choose the very best tree and thanks for doing your research in advance it will pay dividends!
Happy gardening. Lee
Quote from Lee Garden Ninja on 17th October 2021, 4:47 pmHi,
Thanks for your question its a really good question!
Choosing the right tree for any garden, taking into account its ultimate size and spread is a really smart way to choose plants. You wouldn't believe how many gardeners either avoid trees thinking they will all take over or choose the wrong tree, regret it and then avoid trees forever. All of which can be avoided if you do a bit of plant research which I'm so glad you're doing!!
If you've read my blog you will already know that every garden should have at least one tree. They offer privacy, a home for wildlife, shade, can reduce flood risks and help provide year-round interest to the garden. There really is a tree for every sized garden so let's take a look at my top 5 to help you get started!
1. Himalayan Birch - Betula pendula 'Fastigata'
The quick answer is this tree will be absolutely fine for a small garden if you choose the fastigiate version. This means it grows tall and thin rather than wide and broad. I've grown this specimen in the Exploding Atom Garden and it is well behaved and adds height without taking up bulk. See the photo below!
Betula utilis var. jacquemontii is also a good choice especially if chosen as a multi stem tree. This reduces the overall vigoir of the growing height, as its spread over many branches so can be useful in small garden. Though it's much wider than the fastigoiate version.
2. Prunus serrula - Tibettan Cherry Tree
A wonderful tree for its bark alone in the winter. This well-behaved tree has the RHS Award of Merit. A multistem or even standard shaped tree will be fine in a smaller plot and it is a real show stopper of a tree with seasons of interest.
3. Amellanchier lamarckii - Snowy mespilus
This is the garden designers secret weapon when it comes to small garden trees. It offers 3 if not 4 seasons of interest, especially in a multi stem format. Berries for the birds in Summer. Autumn colour changing leaves. Then in spring you get gorgeous pink blossom. Beautiful.
4. Malus - Apple trees on the right root stock
Apple trees make wonderful small garden specimens. This is because you can pick the rootstock depending on the vigour and size of the tree you want. Check out my guide to fruit tree grafting to see the different sizes. Fruit trees provide valuable pollen for wildlife and give you back fruit in return and super easy to prune too!
5.Sorbus 'Joseph Rock' - Mountain Ash
The entire Sorbus genus make great trees for smaller gardens. Super fuss-free. Tolerant of all sorts of crappy soils these trees offer light shade which is dappled along with berries for birds. They also have a lot of folklore behind them in keeping away evil spirits. So they can be a good choice is you have a few enemies or have thrown shade at someone recently! ?
Lastly check out this makeover video where a few of the above have been used. It will help show you them in situ!
Hopefully, that helps you choose the very best tree and thanks for doing your research in advance it will pay dividends!
Happy gardening. Lee
Hi, thank you for this response, I'm curious with the fastigiate birch, how tall would you say this gets, as some websites are saying 10m while others are saying 20m.
many thanks
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