Tree choice for my garde

aliabougazia85aa7zdarV

Dear all I need some advice. I live in the UK (east midlands) and I want to plant a tree in my garden, but my garden being a bit small means I can only plant the tree at a maximum of 5m from my house. Also I have to plant it near a featherboard fence. I was hoping you can advise what tree I can plant this close to the house that wouldn't harm its foundations in the future, and would branch above the level of the fence (1.8m, so not a shrub).
Thanks in advance.

Fairygirl

Sorbus [rowans not whitebeam] can be planted quite near buildings without any problem at all. Amelanchier as well. Both can be pruned to a 'tree' shape 
Cornus kousa is another very impressive small tree. It would also be fine.
I just remembered it because I regularly pass one in a small front garden when I'm out locally - I saw it today 

steephill

Most trees you plant near a fence are likely to end up overhanging your neighbour's garden which may cause conflict in the future. It is worth checking eventual height and spread before planting to avoid such conflict.

aliabougazia85aa7zdarV

Fairygirl said:

Sorbus [rowans not whitebeam] can be planted quite near buildings without any problem at all. Amelanchier as well. Both can be pruned to a 'tree' shape 
Cornus kousa is another very impressive small tree. It would also be fine.
I just remembered it because I regularly pass one in a small front garden when I'm out locally - I saw it today 

Wow these are beautiful. Thank you. I found out that Magnolias can also be safe. What do you think?

aliabougazia85aa7zdarV

steephill said:

Most trees you plant near a fence are likely to end up overhanging your neighbour's garden which may cause conflict in the future. It is worth checking eventual height and spread before planting to avoid such conflict.

Good point. Fortunately the garden is between my front lawn and back garden so no issue there.

Fairygirl

There are lots of Magnolias, many get very large over time though, so you'd need to bear that in mind.  Something like Stellata doesn't get too big. It's more shrubby though. 
Take into consideration what @steephill says too. It's difficult to know just how much room you have without seeing it though. There are varieties of rowan which are more upright, which might be a better solution. 

steephill

There is a stunning cornus kousa near @chicky which is a mature specimen but it is about 10 metres high and wide. Cornus controversa is an alternative with a very interesting shape with tiered branches (wedding cake tree).

chicky

I love that tree @steephill - it is looking glorious at the moment.  It is, so I have been told, about 100 years old.  They take many years to get to that size ….. the ones at Wisley are all much smaller.  I wouldn’t worry too much about it getting too big too quickly

Fire

Silver birch are very lovely and don't take up much width.

Dovefromabove

There are some lovely Crab apples which never grow large and which gives you gorgeous blossom in the spring and fruit for the birds as well. 

I’m always surprised when silver birch is recommended for a small garden … there are quite a few around here … they grow quite quickly reaching 15-20 metres tall and they’re then chopped back and lose their lovely elegant and airy shape and look stunted. 

😊 

Fairygirl

I'd agree re birches. 
That kousa near me has been there at least fifteen years and isn't more than about ten or twelve feet. It's a beautiful specimen.  I think it's always a balance between getting something to a reasonable size in a reasonable time, but then looking at the ongoing maintenance as they continue growing, and whether they will suit that pruning for the space.  
Not many trees stay 'small', but, unless you have the funds to put in an established specimen,  most will take several years to be nicely furnished out and in that ten feet +,  height and spread. Those with a light canopy are less oppressive in a small space, even if they reach twenty feet, so height/spread aren't always the only factors to consider.