GARDEN DESIGN
BEST TREES
FOR SMALL GARDENS
Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire’s
Garden Centres commented; “If
there is one thing I think we could
all do for our world fairly easily it
is plant a tree. Trees are fantastic
as a habitat and food source for
wildlife and as a source of carbon
capture. They also give structure and
architecture to a garden.
There are trees for every size and
shape of garden, from a small acer
in a pot on a balcony or a gorgeous
flowering cherry in a back garden,
to birch, whitebeam and hornbeam
(my personal favourite) for larger
spaces.”
Best trees for small gardens or
patio pots:
• Bay Tree (Laurus nobilis)
• Euonymus
• Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum)
• Magnolia
• Christmas Berry (Photinia ‘Little
Red Robin’)
• Privet (Ligustrum) Topiary
Lollipop
• Witch Hazel (Hamamelis)
How to plant a tree in a pot:
An Acer will give stunning colour to your garden
Planting a tree can benefit even
the smallest garden, by attracting
wildlife, cleaning the air, and adding
colour and interest throughout the
seasons.
Every garden deserves a tree and
spring is the perfect time to plant
one. Trees can bring you flowers
in spring and summer, radiant leaf
colour in autumn, plus interesting
bark and stems in winter.
Trees can be multifunctional too
– screening an unattractive view
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or helping to filter noise and air
pollution if you live near a busy
road. They also benefit nature
significantly: providing pollen for
insects and shelter for birds, and
converting air-borne carbon dioxide
into oxygen.
Finally, if you’re concerned about
your tree growing too tall, don’t
worry: many are suitable for the
smallest of gardens, and most can
be pruned regularly to keep them
compact. Or simply plant your tree
in a large container.
1. Choose a container with plenty of
room to house the rootball, with
space to grow.
2. Most trees thrive in loam-based
compost, such as John Innes No 3.
3. Water regularly – keep the
compost moist.
4. Use a slow release fertiliser every
Spring to keep the plant healthy.
Plant a tree and watch it grow over
the coming years. It will benefit the
environment and wildlife for years
to come.
It’s a lifelong investment.
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