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Trees for small garden spaces

I'm looking for advice on trees for small garden spaces. When I say small I have a 6m x 5m planting space. As the planting space is slightly offset to one side of the semi detached house, I thought a prunus amanogawa would be a nice feature tree. However, garden centres say it grows 5m high and 2m wide and RHS website says 8m high by 4m wide. Also very difficult to find an answer on whether the roots can cause issues for structures or services. ..  Any advice on this particular tree? 

Lee Garden Ninja has reacted to this post.
Lee Garden Ninja

Hello to you Guest,

I reckon this must be one of the most asked questions going, like you I have looked into height and spread of trees, the time scale to grow to full size, and their final dimensions etc, your question about “Prunus Amanogawa” advice differs dependent upon where you look, which is not really very good or helpful, grow in full sun or part shade. Allow this tree to grow freely as a specimen and avoid pruning if possible.  Lightly prune in summer to retain the shape and cut back any dead, diseased or crossing branches. So in a couple of sentences different advice!!!

I used to have a (grafted) Weeping Willow in my garden, a very pretty tree did not take up much room, looked good when it was supposed to, and not very big, it also had a small root base, but this had to go when changing my garden layout.
Looking under the heading on line “Small Trees” one comes across Magnolia, again I had one of these, they do not stay small, trust me, Silver Birch grow very tall and over time grow long tap roots, apart from size it is also dependent on what you wish to get out of your tree, as in, do you want Evergreen, Autumn Colour, Flowers, Leaf Texture, Winter Interest etc plus the area where it is to be planted, shady, sun drenched, good soil, clay based soil?

Have a look at these trees and see if anything grabs your fancy, I don’t think these grow too tall, but research is the key.

Japanese Maple Numerous varieties slow growing and can be kept under control

Sargant Crab Apple   Various varieties

Red Bud Tree (weeping type)

Crape Myrtle Tree some grow tall but there is a dwarf variety

Seven Son Flower

Variegated Dappled Willow

Hinoki Cypress also has a dwarf variety

Bottle Brush Tree Lovely red spikey flowers, I have two of these grown into a standard shrub, can be left alone to make a nice big shrub.

Weeping Birch and Weeping Willow, not the tall willows

Camelia Very nice blooms

Chaste tree looks very similar to a Buddleia Shrub

Finally a Dwarf Weeping Cherry lovely blossom

Should you not be able to source a tree you like, perhaps go down another route and look for large shrubs, one other piece of information that may be helpful, in your original question you say you have been to your “Garden Centre” for advice, in your local area have you a “Nursery” garden centres sell plants, nurseries grow the plants and sell them on, so a little more info may be forthcoming, or best of all a “Nursery that specialises in Trees”

Hope you find what you are looking for, please let the forum know how you get on.

Bob

Hi Guest,

Great to hear from you and Bob has provided some fantastic advice already. I'd definitely check out his suggestions for small garden trees.

Another good post that I replied to a while back on the best trees for small gardens can be found here. That should help too!

My guide on how to lay out a flower bed may also help you in 'grounding' the tree in a successful garden flower bed.

Good luck!

 

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