What tree should I buy?

Hello,
I’m after some advice. We moved into a new build house last summer and planted some shrubs and flowers but now we are thinking we’d like a tree. Needs to be something easy to manage and won’t get too big. Thinking around the £30-50 mark if possible. Just something to fill a gap in the garden which is about 35m by 20m. We don’t know much about gardening so thought I’d ask for some advice. thank you

 

Hi,

Would just say, whatever you buy, do check its ultimate height.

The classic example is the Eucalypus which looks so attracive when small, but ends up a complete monster in a couple of years and way bigger than your house if let to its own.
Some say they can be pruned to size and shape, well if you are a tree expert !

 

Acer griseum is lovely and I had one that was VERY slow growing. Another alternative would be one of the crab apples - there are some with purple leaves, pretty flowers and ornamental fruit for the birds. Or fancier hawthorns with white or pink flowers and winter berries. Both are small.

 

Amelanchier, its the usual one suggested.

 

A major aim for me with trees is limiting how much they cut out light in the garden. Ones which have more sparse branches and/or thinner foliage are generally a good plan.

Magnolia are pretty in flower, and are a nice shape the rest of the year. Properly pruned, they won't shade the ground underneath too much. I think star magnolia (stellata) is much the prettiest - compared to other types, it has smaller flowers and more of them, it stays in flower for longer, and there's not the same issue with the flowers looking ugly as they turn over and go brown. You do generally need to do some pruning in spring/summer after it flowers though.

Ornamental hawthorns are pretty in spring when they flower, and go a brilliant colour in autumn. They're a bit nondescript the rest of the year though. They can also get surprisingly tall and dense, compared to a "normal" hawthorn.

Have you thought about a fruit tree? A semi-dwarfing rootstock will give you something pretty manageable. Apple (Discovery) or plum (Victoria) would be my picks, but there are plenty of other options.

If you don't mind something which does get bigger, a honey locust tree is lovely. They do get tall, but they don't cast too much shade, and they're just generally a beautiful tree with yellowy leaves.

For something more unusual if you want an evergreen to give structure all year, cryptomeria japonica elegans has feathery/rubbery foliage and turns an amazing orange in winter.

 

Wow. Everyone is so helpful, thank you for all the suggestions. Will have a look at each one on google

 

@Emma Hooker Also have a look at flowering cherries, short flowering season admittedly, but nice shape and some have coloured bark.
Birches (Betula) can have a good shape, move nicely in the wind and have interesting bark colours and patterns.
As good as Google is it is not the same as seeing the tree in the "flesh". I'd use Google for research, draw up a short list and then, as lockdown eases, go and see as many as possible in gardens before deciding. Take your time as you will have the tree for many years, all being well.

 

Totally agree. Planting a tree is like getting a puppy - it might be a cute little bundle of floof right now, but if it's going to be 200lbs of timber wolf further down the line, you might want to think again. The number of people I've seen planting monkey puzzle trees right next to their house is ridiculous.

 

@Emma Hooker I'd agree with what the others said. Try to find some open gardens near you and see how the trees develop as they age. @NigelJ mentioned betulas (Greyswood ghost is gorgeous) but it's worth noting they need quite a time to get that lovely stem to a decent diameter. There is a lovely one at RHS Wisley.

 

I wouldn’t plant birch. Our house had 4 of them, each about 40 foot tall and they dropped leaves and seedy bits, proper mess! We paid a small fortune to remove them as 3 of them were within 5m of the house.

We have replaced with :
a Paul’s scarlet hawthorn (beautiful, very cheap, a bit straggly and has taken a while to get going),
a rowan (it will be huge, but it is farthest corner of our garden and such gorgeous autumn colour) a holly (makes for a lovely tree eventually if you are very patient!),
a red robin which we have allowed to grow into a shrubby tree
a small flowering cherry which looks amazing in spring, summer and autumn

I would recommend the cherry tree, just for interest throughout the year, easy to maintain and cheap.

 

Peeling Bark Cherry - Prunus Serrula.