What to plant?

AmyMholz

Advice 1)

We have a patio with outdoor porcelain tiles, under of which is a good solid concrete base. Either side of the patio I have two sunken beds approx 3m x 0.9m. I'd like to plant something good for screening so with some height, ideally trees, but need to be mindful of the roots growing too big and causing issues with the tiles.

Any advice? Any ornamental / fruit trees which I can keep small?

Advice 2)

Similar problem - weve had 3 landscapers come to quote for laying an additional path & patio, the path would be quite close to a 5 year cherry tree and one of the landscapers had an issue with this for some reasons as above. Ideally I'd like to keep it where it is as it gives us good screening. Is he right to be concerned?

Advice 3) 

I'm going to plant some hornbeam at the back of my garden for screening and On one side of my garden I'd like to plant a Portuguese laurel hedge but I want to break it up with some deciduous and evergreen trees. What trees are good to plant 1m from a fence and grow to a reasonable height? My parents have some lovely mutlistem pear trees right up to their fence which have been pruned to hang over their patio on their side? Can this be achieved by pruning?

Thanks in advance!

B3

The roots of a tree will spread out at least as far as the tree goes up.

Ceres

Tree roots can force up patio and path slabs so you need to bear that in mind. How tall do you want your screening plants to grow?

AmyMholz

id say about 3 - 3.5 m 

tia!

AmyMholz

Is there a way to stunt the growth of any ornamental trees?

Thanks, 

Amy 

Dovefromabove

Topiary for some evergreens, espaliering for some fruit trees ... but both require a degree of knowledge (or studying techniques) and regular maintenance through the year. 

Achtung

B3 said:

The roots of a tree will spread out at least as far as the tree goes up.

Don't worry me B3. I've got 5 of these Cypress "Totem" in my front garden. 5 years old and 2 metres high. Are the roots really spreading 2 metres on each tree?