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Fast growing tree that I can shape and keep at 10 foot high?

M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
edited April 2023 in Plants
Apart from the flowering cherry trees, I don't know much about trees that grow in the UK.

Looking for:
  1. a single stemmed
  2. fast growing (as I am in my mid-50s and don't fancy waiting 20 years for it grow to height) 
  3. must be able to trim to shape (conical shape or lollipop shape or boxy shape)
  4. must be able to trim/prune to maintain its height
  5. where to buy (mature) trees from that don't cost more than £70 a piece

Tree I've seen picture of and liked:
  • Holly tree which is a nice evergreen but is it slow growing?
  • Salix/Flamingo tree is also lovely
  • Indian bean tree

I wish I could garden all year round!
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Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    There are many crab apples that may fit most of your bill, but mature trees are not cheap because they need a lot of care over many years before they are sold.
    I think you'll pay £200+ for a mature tree that suits your needs.

    Pity you didn't think of if whilst in your 30's :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Excuse me.
    Why do you wish to give yourself the work of pruning a tree?
    What is wrong with the natural shape?
    Have you considered trees that have flowers?
    Or trees with fab autumn colour?
    Trees that never need pruning?

    Maybe a good idea to visit somewhere like Kew or Westonbirt.
    or Look on line at nurseries that sell trees.

    https://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/

    How about Parrotia persica persian Spire.
    A very neat shape...with no pruning...fab autumn colour.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=parrotia+persica+persian+spire&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwibrbiT5I3-AhWWaMAKHc8FCUwQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=595&dpr=1.5

    eg.....Amelanchier. Sorbus. Malus. Cornus.
    etc etc etc 
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    All the above would look great, and fit your requirements.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If you want to have what's effectively a topiary specimen the best choice is probably yew. For quicker growth (and more frequent trimming to keep a neat shape) you could do a lot worse than common privet, or the golden variegated form, depending on the look you're after. It would be a shame to buy a lovely blossoming tree and then topiarise it, and anything with larger leaves would need to be pruned with secateurs not clipped.
    I don't think holly is as slow as people think. The house across from us had two holly "lollipops" in the front garden for many years, then the house changed hands, the new owner didn't trim them, and now, maybe 10 years on, one is a nice natural cone shape about 15 feet high and the other is a tall column as high as the house.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    JennyJ said:
    ...It would be a shame to buy a lovely blossoming tree and then topiarise it, and anything with larger leaves would need to be pruned with secateurs not clipped.
    ..
    I am after this look preferably - a modern garden with small trees for height


    Photo source: https://www.gardeningetc.com/design/landscaping-around-trees
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    Silver surfer said:
    ......
    Why do you wish to give yourself the work of pruning a tree?
    What is wrong with the natural shape?
    Have you considered trees that have flowers?
    Or trees with fab autumn colour?
    Trees that never need pruning?...
    ----------------------
    Pruning is to keep them to a certain height to achieve the look I want (see pic above).

    I will keep them to their natural shape but only not too tall. 

    Flowers?
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    edited April 2023
    Pete.8 said:
    .....Pity you didn't think of if whilst in your 30's :)

    Planning my future garden. Will be putting house up for sale soon.

    My current garden I started when I bought my house in my 30s.
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    edited April 2023
    Another modern look I am planning - although the trees don't necessarily have to be topiaries


    Photo source: https://eden-gardens.co.uk/what-is-a-formal-modern-style-landscape-design/
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    Silver surfer said:
    ......
    https://www.google.com/search?q=parrotia+persica+persian+spire&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwibrbiT5I3-AhWWaMAKHc8FCUwQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=595&dpr=1.5
    ....

    Yes really like that! Thank you :smile:
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • coccinellacoccinella Posts: 1,428
    If you like yellow in spring you could go for laburnum (all parts poisonous) or euonymus europeus  "red cascade" which you can force into a single stem by pruning the side shoots to the required height. There is a lot of choice, for insect and wildlife the best small trees are fruit trees, but it really depends on the size of your garden and conditions. 


    Luxembourg
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