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Buying a mature tree- yes or no?

zugeniezugenie Posts: 831
edited January 2022 in Garden design
The reason I’m considering it is two fold, the first is that I really want a multi-stem tree as a feature and these seem to come as larger trees as standard, the second is our neighbours bedroom window looks right into our living room, and the neighbour has told us she can see right in! So the size would give us the bonus of instant privacy. I just want to make sure it isn’t a huge mistake as it is obviously more expensive to get a larger tree, the tree I am looking at getting is an amelanchier ‘robin hill’ as I’ve seen these recommended a lot for smaller gardens.

Edit// any tips for helping a larger tree to establish would be appreciated!!
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  • zugeniezugenie Posts: 831
    pansyface said:
    So long as it’s the neighbour looking from her bedroom into your living room and not you looking from your living room into her bedroom.. Unless that’s your (and her) cup of tea. 🙂 Is the neighbour not keen to have a tree of her own? 😯
    She has a very small garden so wouldn’t have the space, honestly all I can see of her bedroom is the window, I only know it’s her room because she told me! Whereas she can see right into our living room (and dining area) as she has told me 😬 We are lucky as it’s only one window from one house that overlooks.
  • zugeniezugenie Posts: 831
    pansyface said:
    So roughly how far away from the foundations of your house and her house would this tree be planted? Could you do a little map maybe?
    6m from ours, about the same from hers as I’m planning to plant it 2m from the fence (our garden is 8m long)
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Hi @zugenie, unless you choose an evergreen tree, your nosy neighbour is going to be able to see into your living room for over 6 months of the year.  Plant the tree that you like for your own enjoyment and consider a contemporary style blind or shutter for your living room - that will cover all current needs😊!  A mature tree will be costly and will need closer attention than a younger tree (and send her the bill!)
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • zugeniezugenie Posts: 831
    Plantminded said:
    Hi @zugenie, unless you choose an evergreen tree, your nosy neighbour is going to be able to see into your living room for over 6 months of the year.  Plant the tree that you like for your own enjoyment and consider a contemporary style blind or shutter for your living room - that will cover all current needs😊!  A mature tree will be costly and will need closer attention than a younger tree (and send her the bill!)
    Hi plantminded, we have curtains but I don’t want any kind of shutter or blind as the room is north facing so would be so dark. It’s not as much of an issue in the winter as we’re working during the day then the curtains are closed at night, it’ll will be more of a problem in summer when we won’t want to have the curtains closed all evening. The tree would also give some privacy in the garden, which we’re obviously not in as much in the winter!
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I understand @zugenie.  It's a concern that I had when a new neighbour moved next door.  He was constantly appearing in the corner of his garden where he could see up to my patio.  As a remedy, I was out planting a line of fast growing shrubs alongside the patio to obliterate his view and heard a voice from below asking "Have you got them close enough?" !!😒
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    The joys of suburbia @pansyface !
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • zugeniezugenie Posts: 831
    Haha, neighbours are fun aren’t they! Our neighbour is actually very nice but we are conscious she won’t live there forever!
  • alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
    I love how this post became less about the tree and more about neighbours.
    😂
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's the neighbours that cause the problems more often @alfharris8 - trees are far less difficult  :D
    As @pansyface says - moving something nearer the house means a smaller specimen and quicker 'blocking' @zugenie ;)
    A decent shrub would also grow reasonably swiftly if you choose the right one, and would be easier to establish than a mature specimen of anything. Lots of shrubs can be maintained to look like a multi stem tree. Amelanchier is a good choice anyway, and they're technically shrubs which can be grown as a tree.   :)

    @Plantminded -you should just have said 'oh yes, and that'll stop you from being a nosey b*****d'  :D

    That would have put his gas at a peep, as we say here  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Good choice of tree, how large of a specimen are you thinking of? If you're prepared to water it and plant it properly, no reason why a large specimen tree from a good nursery wouldn't thrive. (And a good nursery should offer you a guarantee for the first year).
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
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