Real Estate Innovation

Choosing Trees For Your Small Gardens

Take a look at any garden and take a special note of those that you find most appealing. No doubt the best gardens are those that have the most flowers and maybe a tree or two. Obviously, if you are looking at larger gardens, there may be more than one tree but you can almost guarantee that most good gardens have a minimum of one tree.

The most beautiful trees in the garden are usually specimen trees, those types that have good looking blossom or blossom that is sweet smelling. There are other reasons why a tree may be suitable as a specimen tree such as those that bear fruit or those with some kind of architectural qualities such as the corkscrew hazel or a monkey puzzle tree.

The most important thing about a specimen tree is that it must be interesting to such a degree that it stands out in the garden and considerably adds to the gardens overall beauty. One thing that most people fail to realize is that specimen trees do not need to hold a central position in a garden. Quite often trees can look their best as a backdrop to a flower garden or placed in a corner to reduce the ’square’ appearance of a backyard.

If you only have a small space you will find the choice of trees available to us is rather limited as most mature trees are absolutely huge and would create untold damage to nearby properties. It is far, far better to choose one small, very high quality, specimen tree than have a multitude of plain trees!

When choosing trees you need to be aware of the two types, evergreens and deciduous. Evergreens, as the name implies, keep their leaves and remain green throughout winter whereas deciduous trees drop their leaves and remain bare for the season.

Evergreen trees are great for keeping color in the garden during winter months and they can be great for creating privacy screens. However they do not offer any type of bloom of merit (although pine cones add interest), furthermore range of color in evergreens is rather limited to the full range of greens (from lime green to almost blue) to golden or blonde types.

Deciduous trees can look rather bare in the winter months, although icicles and frost add interest. Trees such as the corkscrew willow can look wonderful in the winter but only in the architectural sense and no color. The real advantage of deciduous trees is their diversity. There is a multitude of species that offer the most incredible blossoms such as the laburnum (which is highly suitable for growing in small spaces if kept under control) or the flowering cherry. However the down side is that, when the leaves drop, they make a terrible mess!

One of the most important considerations, when choosing which trees to grow in a small space, is the immediate surroundings. You should create a simple plan making special note of any overhanging ledges or roofs. Take special care to notice any cables leading to your house, or next door, that come anywhere near close to your garden. Also watch out for satellite dishes! A thick set tree can play havoc with a reception.

When choosing trees for your garden always pay a visit to your local nursery as they will be a fountain of knowledge on the subject and will have vast local experience. Japanese maples look great in any garden but especially in small spaces where they often look their best. Other trees suitable for small spaces are a number of dogwoods and willows (especially the corkscrew willow). Also take a look at the dwarf and miniature conifers but make sure that they are not just slow growing as you might find yourself in serious difficulties later.