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Trees for Smaller Gardens

​Just because your garden is small, don’t think that you can’t have trees!

One of the advantages of planting trees is that there is a species to fit every location, regardless of size. Many people with small gardens only have space for one tree so choosing the right one is important.

When planting in small enclosed spaces, it is advisable to plant trees that have a small crown spread. Eventual height is an important factor too. Even small ornamental trees may, over time, reach a height of 6-7m or more.

If you only have room for one tree ideally look for one with more than one feature or season of interest such as coloured bark or fruit or autumn colour following on from flowers.

Crab

Malus "Evereste"

White flowers in late April are followed in autumn by orange-yellow fruits. The fruits are ­inedible but will nourish local bird life.

Ornamental Tree

Height 7m.

Crab

Malus "Royalty"

Large deep pink flowers in spring followed by exceptionally bright red-purple fruits in autumn. Glistening, rich purple leaves.

Ornamental Tree

Height 6m.

Himalayan Birch

Betula utilis "Jacquemontii"

Trunk and branches are a luminous white. Glossy dark green leaves turn yellow in autumn and yellow-brown male catkins appear in early spring.

Ornamental Tree

Height 12m.

Japanese Flowering Cherry

Prunus "Amanogawa"

A narrow, upright tree ideal for restricted spaces. Young leaves are bronze-green, turning green in summer. The large semi-double, soft pink flowers, which are slightly fragrant, are borne in dense clusters in April or May.

Ornamental Tree

Height 8m.

Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum "Osakasuki"

Grown mainly for its spectacular autumn colour, this is perhaps one of the best of all the maples. It has an open habit, and its large, seven-lobed, bright green leaves turn brilliant scarlet in autumn and last for several weeks.

Ornamental Tree

Height 6m.

Kashmir Rowan

Sorbus cashmiriana

Many fingered, green leaves turn russet and gold in autumn. In late spring, the tree is covered in clusters of pink or white flowers, followed by large white berries which last well in to winter.

Ornamental Tree

Height 6m.

Kilmarnock Willow

Salix caprea "Pendula"

A dwarf growing, dense-crowned, weeping willow with stiff, pendulous branches. Grey and yellow catkins are borne in spring.

Ornamental Tree

Height 2-3m.

Laburnum

Laburnum x watereri "Vossii"

Masses of long, pendulous, lightly scented clusters of yellow flowers up to 30cm long smother the tree in late spring. Note – all plant parts are poisonous if ingested.

Ornamental Tree

Height 8m.

Ornamental Sycamore

Acer pseudoplatanus "Brilliantissimum"

Leaves open salmon-pink in spring turning yellow-green by summer. Clusters of yellow-green spring flowers. The tree has a lolly-pop, spreading form.

Ornamental Tree

Height 8m.

Paperbark Maple

Acer griseum

Dark red foliage changing to deep purple on purple stems, contrasting dramatically with masses of pink flowers in March and April.

Ornamental Tree

Height 10m.

Red-Flowered Hawthorn

Crataegus laevigata "Paul’s Scarlet"

A thorny tree bearing clusters of dark pink, double flowers in May and June followed by small red (inedible) fruits in autumn.

Ornamental Tree

Height 8m.

Rowan

Sorbus aucuparia

Choose the fastigiate form. Leaves turn deep, fiery red and yellow in autumn. Sprays of white flowers cover the tree in late spring, followed by bunches of red berries in autumn.

Native Irish Tree

Height 8m.

Silver Birch

Betula pendula

Distinctive silvery-white, peeling bark that becomes marked with black, rugged cracks as it gets older. In spring, yellow-brown male catkins appear and in late autumn the diamond-shaped, bright green foliage turns yellow before falling. Betula pendula ‘Youngii’ is a weeping form that develops a mushroom-headed habit with branches reaching to the ground.

Native Irish Tree

Height 12m

Snake-Bark Maple

Acer pensylvanicum

Trunk and branches streaked green and white and brilliant yellow autumn leaves.

Ornamental Tree

Height 6m.

Snowy Mespilus

Amelanchier lamarckii

Stunning white, starry flowers in springtime followed by edible, purple black fruits. Leaves turn from bronze in spring to green in summer to brilliant red and orange during autumn.

Ornamental Tree

Height 8m.

Spindle

Euonymus europaeus

Although inconspicuous for much of the year, this small tree is very showy in autumn and early winter when the leaves turn blazing scarlet and masses of rose-red capsules split open to reveal orange seeds.

Native Irish Tree

Height 4m.

Strawberry

Arbutus unedo

Slow growing evergreen with shredding brown bark and dark green, leathery leaves. Clusters of pinkish white, pitcher-shaped flowers and red strawberry-like fruits are borne together in late autumn and winter. Suitable for southern Ireland and coastal areas.

Native Irish Tree

Height 5m.

Weeping Pear

Pyrus salicifolia "Pendula"

A very elegant tree which forms a dense mound of weeping branches. These are clothed with downy, silvery grey, willow-like leaves. White flowers in April followed by small brown fruits in autumn.

Ornamental Tree

Height 7m.

Yew

Taxas baccata

Choose the columnar or fastigiate form. Slow growing coniferous tree forming a dense, compact column.

Native Irish Tree

Height 3m.

Est 1985
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