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Small tree for front garden

tmp57tmp57 Posts: 4
in Garden design
Hello everybody,

Would anyone be able to recommend a small tree for the front border which is upright and ideally interesting throughout the seasons? It will be in a sheltered area next to a fairly high wall. Many thanks

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Hello @tmp57 and welcome to the forum :) . My "go to" tree is Amelanchier. Blossom in the Spring, followed by black berries that the blackbirds love, then glorious autumn colour.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Whe when you say small ... how small are we talking about ? 10 ft or 20 ft? Or ... ?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited September 2018
    Can't fault Anni's recommendation tmp. It's a grand choice for any garden.
    The Sorbus [rowans] are also good. There areseveral varieties, as well as the native.
    Just a small thought  though - you're saying it's going in a border next to a high wall. How wide is the border?
    Even smaller trees will need a decent space for their roots to spread out and get established, and a tree planted too near a wall can struggle with getting enough moisture. As long as it has enough room, and doesn't go short of water in it's first year or two, it should be ok  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    A twisted hazel is small and slow growing. Now they have catkin male flowers, then leaves fall to show the twisted branches over winter, spring new leaves with female flowers in March then nuts late Autumn.  Not one many think of. 😀
  • Steve the Gardening VetSteve the Gardening Vet Posts: 1,630
    I have a nice red sentinel crab apple.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I like the Amelanchier as well. I have planted a purple version of the twisted Corylus contorta in the school garden I look after as I thought the purple catkins would look cool, it hasn't grown very much in 3 years though, so it is slow growing.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Nice to see you popping in Steve.

    As Dove says - how tall for the tree, what height is the wall and how close do you plan to plant the tree?   Also, what soil do you have?
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Steve the Gardening VetSteve the Gardening Vet Posts: 1,630
    Thanks Obelixx, I do read stuff. I just don't have time to keep up with the Forkers!

  • tmp57tmp57 Posts: 4
    Thank you all for your comments. The border is about four feet in width, and I refer to small because it will be the corner of the plot.
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