It does not matter if you only have a small garden, you can still find trees to improve it. A beautiful tree can act as a focal point for small gardens and can add an extra layer of privacy to the property. Consider attracting a lot of local wildlife by planting trees with fruit and enjoy the benefits your own fruit, such as planting a pear or apple tree.
Here are a few trees that are ideal for small gardens:
Japanese Maple
The small Japanese Maple is very slow to grow so that you do not have to worry about it overcrowding your garden. They give off brilliant colours in autumn and grow into an attractive form.
Crab Apple
These trees offer abundant food for wildlife with brightly coloured fruits and spring blooms beautifully appearing. The space-saving varieties include Golden Hornet, which grow upright. If you need help with tree planting, contact a Tree Surgeon Essex at a site like Benchmark, a leading Tree Surgeon Essex.
Rowan
Rowan makes a perfect little garden tree with fruit in the autumn and pretty spring flowers. They are a good size and offer plenty of food for wildlife. Look for species such as Sorbus Sorbus forrestii and wardii.
Peach
Peach trees are a perfect size for small to medium gardens, and contrary to popular belief are very strong in the British climate. To ensure a good crop of fruit, plant in a sunny location, sheltered and warm away from the chance of suffering from frost in winter.
Planting and caring for your tree
Whatever size your garden, start by thinking about how large the tree will eventually grow and what type of soil you have. A rowan is a good example of a tree that stays fairly compact. Native species are worth considering too, as they are easier to care for and provide a natural habitat and food source for local wildlife.
The best time to plant a young tree is in autumn, when it is dormant and planting has less effect on its growth. Native trees rarely need much watering unless there is a long dry spell, but weeds should be kept under control for the first few years. A tree guard protects a young trunk from damage, and stakes and ties help keep it upright.
As the tree grows, take care when mowing close to the base, as a mower can damage the bark. If it ever needs cutting back, use a qualified tree surgeon rather than climbing up yourself, which risks both the tree and your safety.
Native trees for autumn colour and berries
Autumn is when many native trees are at their best, and some suit a garden as well as the woods. Rowan, also called mountain ash, is a popular garden tree. It stands out in late summer and early autumn with clusters of red berries, and legend has it that planting one near your home protects you from evil.
Alder buckthorn is often found in hedgerows and is easiest to recognise in autumn by its small berries, which turn deep purple early in the season. Thrushes love them, so it can bring birds into a garden hedge.
The oak, England’s favourite tree and sacred to the druids, turns a rich gold in autumn and drops acorns that can grow into new oaks the following spring. It grows far too large for most small plots, so it is one to enjoy on autumn walks in ancient woodland. Looking at mature trees there is also a good way to judge colour and berries before you choose something for your own garden.