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Advice on a small/medium tree/shrub

DiggyDiggersonDiggyDiggerson Posts: 16
in Plants
Hi all, 

I'm looking to plant a small/medium sized tree or shrub in the back garden, partly for privacy and partly to be ornamental. There's potential for a housing development in the coming years behind our garden so am looking to future proof the view a bit. It'd sit at a kind of T-junction so ideally i'd be able to walk under the future canopy (around 6/7') and looking for an ultimate height of around 5/6m.

We were initially interested in a Rhus Typhina for the look and potential size and shape but have been told they sucker a lot and can be a bit of a handful. Would burying it in a large pot help or would that limit it's growth?

Any other suggestions welcome. Here's a picture of the garden space.



Thanks!
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Posts

  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    It's easy to go online and find lists of the top 10 trees for small gardens. These lists always include, crab apples, rowan, amelanchier, Birch, acers, etc. What grows well in your area and on your soil?
    People who answer your question will all have their own bias, personally I love acers, hugely varied group, easy to grow. Come in all shapes and sizes (look beyond Japanese maples). Rowan would be excellent for attracting wildlife, good flowers, fruit and autumn colour. Lots of different types available.
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    A standard paperbark maple (acer griseum) would look nice, and has good autumn colour. It's quite twiggy so would screen to a lesser extent in winter too.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I don't think a Rhus in a container would get to that size. I agree, they are beautiful though. 

    Cotinus can be very nice, I very recently saw some tree sized multi-stem specimens. They will definitely not get too big, and even if they did, you can coppice them.

    Heptacodium miconioides is a lovely small tree, with white flowers in autumn that leave behind persistent red calyces. Has peeling cinnamon coloured bark. That would be in my shortlist.

    Cercidophyllum japonicum is a lovely tree that might also fit the bill, perhaps a bit big but you can coppice it like a hazel.... which would be another potential option!
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    For the fairly wide crown that you've drawn, I think a crab apple would fit the bill.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Loxley said:


    Cercidophyllum japonicum is a lovely tree that might also fit the bill, perhaps a bit big but you can coppice it like a hazel.... which would be another potential option!
    Super big  trees.
    Near here someone has a fabulous specimen that they have kept pruned.
    Just beautiful.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    I've never seen that done @Silver surfer, that's a very interesting option, thank you for posting about it.
    If anything happened to my tree I would consider planting another and trying that.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Woodgreen said:
    I've never seen that done @Silver surfer, that's a very interesting option, thank you for posting about it.
    If anything happened to my tree I would consider planting another and trying that.
    I love it, but it must be pruned every year to keep it that shape.
    Maybe a labour of love.
    Certainly not easy...it is large.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    That did cross my mind, as a 5ft tall person! But where there's a will.....
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @DiggyDiggerson Not sure where you are in the country or what kind of soil you have. Acer Grisium for example is rarely seen here. I would have liked to plant it at one time but most of the specimens that were doing well seemed to be in the South of the country. A new tree takes time to think through it is going to be there a long time.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    GardenerSuze said:
    @DiggyDiggerson Not sure where you are in the country or what kind of soil you have. Acer Grisium for example is rarely seen here. I would have liked to plant it at one time but most of the specimens that were doing well seemed to be in the South of the country. A new tree takes time to think through it is going to be there a long time.
    I used to grow it in South Wales a super tree with rich peeling bark...just a baby.
    .....see pics 1 and 2.
    It is slow to grow.
    There are many good specimens up here as well.

    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
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