Choosing a tree for your garden takes a greater degree of planning if space is limited.
If your chosen tree becomes too large, removal or expensive surgery may become necessary, and growing plants in the garden difficult due to the competition for moisture, food and light.
Growing a tree in a container will also restrict its overall height and growth.
Selecting a tree
Trees up to 8-10m (25-35ft) in height are usually reasonable for most small gardens, although in some cases a taller tree with a narrow habit may be considered. A narrow tree may give a more formal appearance with spreading trees providing welcome shade. If you only have space for one tree ideally look for one with more than one season of interest such as fruit or autumn colour following flowers.
To avoid planting a tree too large for the site it may help to draw a scale plan of your garden and plot the size of your tree at maturity. If planting in the corner of your garden be aware that most of the canopy will shade neighbouring gardens.
A selection of trees for small gardens:
Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku' AGM 6m
Amelanchier lamarckii AGM 10m
Cercis siliquastrum AGM 10m
Cornus cousa var. chinensis
AGM 7.5m
Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet'
AGM 8m
Malus 'Evereste' AGM 7m
Malus tschonoskii AGM 12m
Prunus 'Pandora' AGM 10m
Sorbus hupehensis AGM 8m