The message
from Philippe Gautier contains
these words:

Will Cooke wrote:
Hi All,

Having spent the weekend digging over the front garden I have now
got a nice
bed at the end (away from the house) that I would dearly love to put
a Flowing
Cherry tree in, however, the soil is (very) heavy clay and I believe
that putting
a Cherry in at only about 2 to 3 meters from the house in this soil
would do bad
things to the foundations, sewer pipes and possibly the road.

So, firstly can anyone confirm that putting this Cherry in would be
a bad idea,
and secondly can anyone suggest a nice tallish structural shrub with
nice flowers
and possibly a scent that would be more suitable but just a pleasing
to the eye.

My garden is also very heavy clay and I put a Tree Mallow (Lavatera
olbia rosea ?). I think you have quite a wide range of varieaty and
sizes but mine became absolutely huge (for a shrub) and covered with
flowers.

Shortlived, though; just a few years usually.

Very sensible to be cautious when the site is only 2 or 3 m from the
house. If you want something with spring flowers and autumn colour which
doesn't mind heavy soil, doesn't get too big, and won't resent pruning
to shape it, I'd go for either amelanchier (There's a pretty one called
Ballerina with larger flowers) or a bush-like rowan called sorbus
kohneana. sk flowers and fruits at a very young age and at this time of
year it would be weighed down (into a japanesey style) with many bunches
of white berries, great autumn leaf colour too.

You'll find pics of both in www.google/images and both should be
available from a good GC.

Janet.