Need advice for tree to plan on small strip of land in front garden/driveway

danielbing90ocZmw1Ky

Hi,

I am looking to plant a tree in a small strip of land to the right of my drive. The space is roughly 1m (w) x 3/4m (l).

I ideally want it to be relatively long stemmed, (so any foliage/flowers wouldn't get in the way of getting in an out of the cars) and not to grow so wide that it will grown over the cars and cover them in berries/bird poop.

I have been looking at cherry blossoms, which I think would be nice. More particularly the snow goose cherry blossom which is colourful, but still very think and small. Ideally I would like something more fuller and that would grow a little taller, but at the same time wouldnt grow too big for the space. 

Any advice for this unsure person would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dan

Dogmum

Hi Dan
Have you considered putting in some posts and strong wires and growing the trees as espalier? I think that’s the correct term, training the branches horizontally and then pruning anything that grows out from the wire more than you would like.

Posy

I have a snow goose. It is white, not colourful and its branches dip down and spread quite widely so I don't think it would suit your needs. It is a most beautiful cherry and I would recommend it to anyone, but not in that space.

Fairygirl

It's not the planting space that's the problem, it's the amount of room round about it you have as well. No matter what tree you plant, you'll get foliage and flowers falling nearby/on the car, and birds sitting in it, but you'd need to allow for the eventual spread of the tree to make sure any branches don't interfere with car doors etc.  The roots of cherries are often near the surface as well, so it would be wise to plant around ten feet away to avoid any damage to the drive.
Unless you're buying a very mature specimen, it'll take several years to get to a reasonable size too. 

Dovefromabove

I would look at Prunus sargentii ‘Rancho’ … the most fastigiate (upright growing) of the flowering cherries. Even when mature it doesn’t spread out like most of them. As well as the deep pink blossom, it also has glorious red and gold autumn colour and very attractive glossy mahogany bark which look striking throughout the winter when the trees are bare.  

https://www.paramountplants.co.uk/plant/psr/prunus-sargentii-rancho.html