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Help with tree choice

hi there,

im looking for some suggestions on which trees to choose for some large containers at the front of my bungalow

some details:
- bungalow house, south facing
- half red brick on the left, half white render on the left
- 4 painted wooden planters will be placed at the front of the house
- each planter will be 600mm (2ft) wide x 600mm deep x 900mm (3ft) high

the wall area behind each planter in between the windows and doors is approx 600mm (2ft) or a little more. 

Im hoping to choose trees that won’t be much higher thank the roof gutters - the scale might look out of place. So I guess after they’re placed in the container they won’t want to be much more than 6ft high. I think the spread shouldn’t be too wide either so not to cover the windows and doors. 

At at the moment I’m envisaging himalayan silver birch of some kind. I really like these but wonder would they suit my application? Is it possible to get a dwarf specie or stung the growth?

i also think olive trees would be nice but they take years and years to get to any substantial size. 

I also wouldnt dismiss a nice pine tree. 

Any ideas would be great, I’m finding a bit tricky and am open to suggestions. 

Posts

  • Andy LeedsAndy Leeds Posts: 518
    Apple?
  • Apple?
    Yes potentially Andy. Maybe there is an apple available with an interesting bark too
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    If you have fruit trees, you need two of the same species so they pollinate each other.  Otherwise you won't get much fruit.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    A blue pine, twisted hazel, or patio fruit tree . All small enough for space and will be possible to keep to shape without much trouble.  The other is a rose, even a climber.
  • A blue pine, twisted hazel, or patio fruit tree . All small enough for space and will be possible to keep to shape without much trouble.  The other is a rose, even a climber.
    Thank you. I will look into these suggestions. 

    If if I had some specie if silver birch, will it naturally stay small if it’s in a container?
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    The only silver birch I've had any dealings with are the native ones, and they are rampant growers. Not sure if a birch would be able to be contained in such a small area.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    If it has to be a tree then my suggestion is to buy as big as you can afford of a slow growing variety then at least you will get a few years before having to remove it.
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