Suitable tree

richwillis1985

Hi all. I’m looking for some advice. I would like to buy a small tree for my front garden. Ideally I would like a flowering tree. I was looking at a small cherry (Prunus Shogetsu) but am concerned that the root spread will damage a garden wall nearby. The plot is roughly 17 square meters but the tree would be 1.5 meters from the wall. Would the Blushing Bride cherry be suitable? If not could recommend something that would be suitable for the plot? 

Obelixx

The general rule is that tree roots spread as far as the canopy of branches.  Your chosen cherry should be fine if planted in the middle as it is only likely to reach a spread of 8ms after 20 or more years.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/64401/Prunus-Shogetsu/Details 

I like your paving slabs and the steps.  Good job there.

Bijdezee

Amalanchier. Lovely white flowers plus berries for birds and stays compact. 

Obelixx

Good foliage colour too on the amelanchier both spring and autumn.

Dovefromabove

Our multi-stemmed amelanchier this evening, just coming into flower 

and in the autumn a few years ago 

Gorgeous 😊 

richwillis1985

Thanks for all the advice 👍🏼 And thanks for noticing the patio 😬

thefoostybadger

OP, apologies for muscling in on your thread   (BTW, also think you've done a great job with those slabs)

@Dovefromabove , Hope you don't mind me asking; how old is your Amelancier? It's exactly the height/spread I could do with in a spare sunny spot.

Also, is that A. lamarckii?

Thanks in advance.   Hope everyone is well btw.

Dovefromabove

Hi @thefoostybadger   Don't mind at all.  

Yes, it's A. larmarckii.  We planted it four years ago at the end of April ... it was about 6ft tall when we bought it (cost about £110 if I remember correctly - never paid that much for a tree before but Ma had just died and I needed to do something positive).  It had been part of a display at the GC and I'd been lusting after that particular one, it was very beautiful ... a fabulous shape.  

We brought it home from the GC (only a mile away) in the back of our elderly convertible Megane with the top down and 14 year old niece in the back seat holding on to it for all she was worth 🤣

thefoostybadger

Thanks for the info, @Dovefromabove, (and also the nice background story! )

So not a very quick grower then? And able to be kept at the ideal height, (for me 8-10ft), once it's got there by pruning?

Have seen the Amelancier suggested a few times on the forum; never realised it looked so good spring AND autumn.

Dovefromabove

And fruit in the summer for the birds 

If ours outgrows its spot (unlikely as we bought it to replace a huge ash in the garden which may have to come down at some time in the future) but if it does get too large I think I'll try taking out the largest stem from the base, rather than shorten it from the top and ruin it's elegant shape.  A sort of 'gradual coppicing' idea. 

thefoostybadger

Here, that's a good idea!

Thanks for the info; to the OP, good luck with whatever tree you choose.