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Small tree ideas for this spot?

TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
in Plants
Hi,

I would really like a small tree in the middle of my lawn. 

The garden is north facing but halfway across the lawn it gets full sun as it’s out of the shadow of the house. 

The soil is clay once you get down about two feet but drainage isn’t an issue as the garden is an a gentle slope to the north and east. 

Any ideas? Is it difficult getting a tree to grow in a lawn? I want something that won’t grow taller than about 6/7 feet and won’t get wider than that either. 

I’m happy with deciduous. 

Your help and guidance, as ever, is appreciated. 


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Posts

  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    edited April 2023
    Multi stemmed beech tree provides lovely colour and focus point



    Red acer


    Indian Bean tree


    Wedding Cake tree


    Prunus amanogawa

    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    As always - Amelanchier would do well - light, airy canopies and good interest from spring to autumn. Not fussy about soil type. 
    It's not a very big site, but you can grow them as multi stemmed trees anyway.
    If you're planting into the lawn, just take a good area of turf away - square would probably suit better as the lawn is rectangular. You can then prep in the same way as planting anything - plenty of organic matter etc, well watered through summer until established. Good mulching. You can add spring bulbs and some low perennials  later on when it's happy. :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    edited April 2023
    @M33R4 those trees get much taller than 6-7 feet. That's a silver birch, not a beech tree. That height is more like a tall shrub. There are some small crab apples and flowering cherries. Even an Amalanchier will grow taller than that.

    I think your tree would be OK taller than 6-7 feet in that space, so long as it isn't very wide. Personally I would prefer a flower bed or a rose bed.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Amelanchiers have such light canopies that it wouldn't cast a lot of shade. Easy to prune or pollard them too. We had some multi stem ones at the last house which were only just taller than the fence which was 6 feet. 
    Certainly some of the smaller, weeping cherries would suit too. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    Busy-Lizzie said:
    @M33R4 those trees get much taller than 6-7 feet. That height is more like a tall shrub.....

    I have flowering cherries which I love, and which get very high but I keep them pruned lightly every 2 years to keep them to about 10 feet tall because I love them in my garden. I could even keep them shorter and they would still look lovely.

    If pruning is not in the plan/low maintenance, then perhaps Salix/Flamingo as that pretty stays low?
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    A small crab apple is one idea.
    I've recently planted Malus Aros, and it would be perfect for that site.
    Sunny Dundee
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Amelanchier Lamarckii looks like a nice one @Fairygirl

    Yes I’ve been toying with the idea of putting a bed in there @Busy-Lizzie. I’m just after a bit of height I think. 

    Both neighbours have trees and I only have one (planted last year so still tiny in comparison). 

  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    I’m happy to prune etc. 

    I have that monster hedge to deal with twice a year so some gentle tree work is not a bother. 
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Balgay.Hill said:
    A small crab apple is one idea.
    I've recently planted Malus Aros, and it would be perfect for that site.
    According to the “older” man down the street this was all orchards at one point. Next door have an apple tree too. 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Oh, since I posted @M33R4 has added a flowering cherry and @Fairygirl snuck in before me! I often say Amalanchier for a small tree, I love them.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
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