Trees bring many benefits to our lives. They are proven to be stress relievers. They provide homes for many species of wildlife and birds. Trees also give us shade from the sun or much needed privacy from neighbours, so they are a brilliant thing to add to all gardens.
However, if you have a small garden space you might think that a tree will be overpowering or you might find it tricky to know which type would be the best fit. There are many small varieties of tree that can grow in small spaces – Here we’ve collated 5 trees we recommend for smaller gardens:
1 - Acer griseum
Acer griseum, also known as Paper Bark, due to its golden-coloured pealing thin layers of bark, which gives it’s an unusual decorative look. Very slow growing and when fully grown it will be around 10m tall. Its dark green leaves turn a beautiful shade of crimson in the autumn giving your garden a burst of colour as the colder months set in.
2 - Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori'
Prunus mume ‘Beni-chidori’ or Flowering Japanese Apricot tree – This is a great addition for any garden. Its deep pink blossoms come out towards the end of February through to March, giving your garden that pop of pink just when it feels winter is never going to end! This gorgeous Japanese Apricot grows to around 2.5m by 2.5m so it will fit even in the smallest of gardens.
3 - Magnolia stellate
Magnolia stellate or Royal Star Magnolias. These head turners, with their dark green leaves, grey bark and beautiful ornate white flower displays, earn their royal name. This very hardy, fast-growing tree likes well drained soil but watch out for those late frosts – its blooms are more susceptible to those, so be ready to protect it. This beauty will grow up to 6m tall and 5m wide. Best planted early springtime.
4 - Crab Apples
Crab Apple Trees. These are a great option to plant in a small garden as there are multiple different varieties to choose from that will grow to no more than 5 meters. One of the more popular ones is the Malus ‘John Downie’ variety with its plum shaped orange/red coloured fruit and white flowers. Or the Malus ‘Butterball’ which produces beautiful yellow with a hint of orange fruits in the autumn and white flowers, with a hint of pink in the spring. This variety can grow up to 8m.
5 - Chamaerops humilis
Chamaerops humilis. Also known as the European Fan Palm or Mediterranean Dwarf Palm, will bring a tropical feel to your garden, the only palm native to Europe. You can start off with planting it in a large pot and move around your garden to get a feel for where it’ll be best placed. This very slow growing evergreen tree, with its fan shaped leaves really gives your garden a focal statement piece, growing up to a height of only 3.5m.
As with any decision on what will work best for your garden and family, always do your own research, or speak to an assistant at the Garden centre when making the final choice on which tree is right. We hope you found this a helpful starting point for some options of trees to plant.
