It almost seems a contradiction in terms trees and small gardens but believe it or not there are species that can fulfil a vital role in even the smallest garden. It’s a matter of scale and that most important issue understanding plants. How many times have you seen a small pot grown tree carefully positioned in a narrow bed two or three feet from the house, how cute it looks that is until it reaches its potential? 45 metres high in the case of the popular Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), or that humble Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) grown from a conker which can reach almost 30 meters tall.

Acorns, beech nuts or sycamore seeds collected on a nature walk and enthusiastically nurtured in a pot can turn into nightmare trees if consideration is not given to the space they need to mature.

Trees are a valuable addition to any garden providing height, structure and in some cases very attractive flowers or fruit. Many provide food for birds and are a haven for wildlife, whilst providing shade and protection for plants and relaxing gardeners.

There are thousands of trees to choose from but the same rules apply as for any plant you want to introduce into your garden. Research does not need to involve wading though mountains of books pop along to your local park or garden and have a chat to the staff; indeed a happy characteristic of most gardeners is their willingness to impart information about their experiences and knowledge. It is helpful however to have some idea about what you like, the space you have and ideally your soil type, although the more common trees are fairly amenable on a range of soils.

Where space is very limited it may be necessary to undertake some formative pruning every couple of years just to keep the tree canopy in the confines of the space available.

The following list is a small selection of those trees that have proven to be reliable in a small space bearing in mind that even the smallest trees will develop a canopy of branches with a 2 to 3 metre spread.

Flowering Crab Apples

Malus ‘John Downie’, M. ‘Golden Hornet’, M. ‘Profusion’

Flowering Cherry

Prunus ‘Kanzan’, P mume.’Beni-chidori’, P. ‘Okame’

Ornamental Pear

Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’ (Weeping Pear) can be pruned to enhance its weeping habit.

Ornamental Bark

Acer griseum (Paper Barked Maple)

Betula nigra (Black or River Birch)

Prunus serrula (Mahogany Red Bark)

Attractive Foliage

Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’ (Honey Locust)

Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’ (Black Locust)

Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’ (Japanese Maple)

Attractive Berries

Sorbus huphehensis var obtusa ( Huebi Rowan) pink berries

Sorbus aucuparia ‘Joseph Rock’ ( Chinese Rowan)yellow berries

Sorbus vilmorinii (Vilmorin Rowan) pink berries

Sorbus commixta (Japanese Rowan) red berries

Sorbus cashmiriana (Kashmir Rowan) white berries

Container grown trees can be planted almost all year round, but in warm dry spells they will inevitably require supplementary watering.

Plant in a hole at least 150 – 200mm wider than the root ball adding good garden compost and an organic ‘pelleted’ fertilizer watering immediately after planting to settle the roots in. The depth of planting should be the same level as the compost in the container.