Quick growing trees

Kmeh

What would you plant if you wanted something to grow 2-3 meters high within a few years.  Something that looks effective planted in a set of 2 or 3. Something that is reasonable to buy too. Its largely to pretty up/distract from  an area adjacent to our place that it an eyesore and have to see everyday - but as it not really mine I cant rationalise spending large amounts. 

Any help greatly appreciated 

Greenbird

Can't think of anything in particular, that would be cheap. 

You could likely get some bare rooted trees at a decent price and size next winter if you shop around. I'd still be expecting to pay £300-£400 for a group a trees to make instant impact.

If you can wait a few years, a UK native hedge are relatively inexpensive and grow quickly (Hawthorn, blackthorn, elder, field maple, Hazel)

Fire

Buddlija. Elder can also get some height fairly fast.

KeenOnGreen

We had a Eucalyptus tree in our previous property, it only cost about £30, and was already about 2 metres tall.  It grew very quickly, too quickly!  At my cheapest local nursery it only costs about £40 on average for a tree which is about 2 metres high.  With enough research I'm sure you wouldn't need to spend as much as you think.  Our Elder puts on metres of growth each year, and they will probably be cheaper to buy than a tree, if you buy them as shrubs.

Kmeh

Thank you for your replies

Buttercupdays

Some cotoneasters can make quite presentable small trees or large multi stemmed shrubs. They grow really fast, have flowers for the bees, berries for the birds.  Easy to cut back if necessary. C. lacteus might be worth a look, it is also one of the evergreen varieties and you can buy a small one and watch it grow!

Kmeh

Can I ask where you bought for £8 @Treeface . Hoping there is some magical reasonably prices online retailer that I am not aware of 😁!

Fairygirl

Trees and shrubs don't just magically grow. They take a while just to establish their roots.
They also don't magically stop at a convenient height, as @KeenOnGreen illustrates.

Buddleia is the best suggestion, but you need to cut it back every year. Tree whips will be available by November for bare root planting. You could buy a few of the aforementioned Hawthorn etc, or Rowans [Sorbus] - the native ones.

What do you mean by 'as it is not really mine' ? You can't plant stuff on other people's property, or council land.

Kmeh

Well it's kind of ours. The area is on my parents in laws farm next to our drive and my father in law loves to store random troughs and old scrap around. It's very much a busy working farm so one really can't complain!

So we were hoping that if we beautifed the area with trees, got rid of all the weeds, the area can become less of a dumping ground. Hence why we didnt want to spend large sums becuase any efforts made may always be covered by scrap metal!

Kmeh

B3

I'd go with elder too. You can prune it into a tree shape or leave it bushy. It grows very fast. I take a good few feet off it every year to keep it about 8ft high tree shape so it could be higher if I wanted it.