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Recommend me a flowering cherry tree for a small garden

Greg4Greg4 Posts: 91
I am looking to buy a flowering cherry for a small back garden, soil is very dry due to next doors huge oak tree that takes moisture from our garden. The oak doesn’t cause shade to our garden as it’s position is on the north side of our garden.
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  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    You will need to improve the soil over a wider area than just the planting hole so that your new tree can get its roots in over winter and probably water it thru dry spells in the growing season until it's a few years old and well established.

    Prunus serrula has lovely, shiny, coppery bark which makes it a feature in winter.   Good leaf colour in spring and autumn and small white flowers - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/14025/Prunus-serrula/Details

    If you want one with more vivid flowers - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/99553/Prunus-Kanzan-(d)/Details 

    This one has purple foliage - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/99810/Prunus-cerasifera-Pissardii/Details 

    Lots of choice depending on how blousy you want the flowers to be or whether you prefer a longer season of interest.
    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
  • Greg4Greg4 Posts: 91
    Yes thanks, soil very dry and in need of plenty of organic matter, have a bin full of home made compost ready for the task.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Good.  Once planted, water well and mulch it to retain moisture and mulch it every spring to retain soil moisture and maintain soil condition..
    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
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Another small cherry with a columnar habit is "Amagowa", good for small gardens where you need some height but not the width.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    You don't mention how small is small. One of the best understated flowering cherry trees has got to be Prunus x Subhirtella 'Autumnalis'. They may not have the rainbow autumn colour or the classic big blast of blossoms in spring, but makes up for its slow delicate flowers that stud the branches throughout the winter. Sometimes for almost 5 months through the bleakest and darkest days. A great tree to set off evergreen shrubs and spring bulbs. 
  • Borderline, that sounds glorious! Off to Google...
  • Greg4Greg4 Posts: 91
    Thanks Lizzie and Borderline. Small as in not very deep 8 mt or so but wide as in 18 mt.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Is that the garden or the eventual tree size?
    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
  • Greg4Greg4 Posts: 91
    Garden size

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Choices, choices!
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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