Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

I wonder if anyone could help me decide on which tree to get for my back
garden. I need something to provide a bit of shade, and give some sense of
shelter, as it's a rather exposed coastal site. The soil is very alkaline
and below the shallow topsoil, is stony clay. The site gets fairly windy,
especially in winter. There is lots of sunshine in Summer. It's in the
South West of England with typically only a few nights of frost each year.

I want a tree that will only grow to about 12ft high absolute maximum, so
that it won't obscure the views from the upstairs window. Ideally the
braches will spread outwards for around 8 feet from the trunk, providing a
canopy of dappled shade on a summer's day, that can be walked under without
much obstruction from the branches.

I'd like something that is interesting and attractive, all year round. I
don't want anything too common, such as an apple, pear or cherry, unless
they are the only sensible option. It doesn't have to be a fruit tree.

I'll be planting it about 10ft from the rear of my house, in front of some
French windows that face East. The tree will get full sun for several hours
each sunny day.

I have wondered about a palm, because of the exotic feel they create, but
they seem to be expensive and slow-growing.

Something that develops a twisted, interesting-looking trunk would be
preferable to something with a boringly straight, smooth trunk.

I'd be looking to buying a sapling that is already about 8ft to 10ft tall -
one which would grow outwards, mostly and not gain too much additional
height.

Can anyone suggest anything?

Thank you,

Al

Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

On Feb 25, 3:52*pm, "AL_n" wrote:
I wonder if anyone could help me decide on which tree to get for my back
garden. I need something to provide a bit of shade, and give some sense of
shelter, as it's a rather exposed coastal site. The soil is very alkaline
and below the shallow topsoil, is stony clay. The site gets fairly windy,
especially in winter. There is lots of sunshine in Summer. It's in the
South West of England with typically only a few nights of frost each year..

I want a tree that will only grow to about 12ft high absolute maximum, so
that it won't obscure the views from the upstairs window. Ideally the
braches will spread outwards for around 8 feet from the trunk, providing a
canopy of dappled shade on a summer's day, that can be walked under without
much obstruction from the branches.

I'd like something that is interesting and attractive, all year round. I
don't want anything too common, such as an apple, pear or cherry, unless
they are the only sensible option. It doesn't have to be a fruit tree.

I'll be planting it about 10ft from the rear of my house, in front of some
French windows that face East. The tree will get full sun for several hours
each sunny day.

I have wondered about a palm, because of the exotic feel they create, but
they seem to be expensive and slow-growing.

Something that develops a twisted, interesting-looking trunk would be
preferable to something with a boringly straight, smooth trunk.

I'd be looking to buying a sapling that is already about 8ft to 10ft tall -
one which would grow outwards, mostly and not gain too much additional
height.

Can anyone suggest anything?

Thank you,

Al

Sounds like you need a bus shelter. :-)

Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

In article , Sacha wrote:
On 2012-02-25 15:52:51 +0000, "AL_n" said:

I wonder if anyone could help me decide on which tree to get for my back
garden. I need something to provide a bit of shade, and give some sense of
shelter, as it's a rather exposed coastal site. The soil is very alkaline
and below the shallow topsoil, is stony clay. The site gets fairly windy,
especially in winter. There is lots of sunshine in Summer. It's in the
South West of England with typically only a few nights of frost each year.

I want a tree that will only grow to about 12ft high absolute maximum, so
that it won't obscure the views from the upstairs window. Ideally the
braches will spread outwards for around 8 feet from the trunk, providing a
canopy of dappled shade on a summer's day, that can be walked under without
much obstruction from the branches.

Then what you're asking for is a tree that doesn't branch until it get
to just over 6' tall and then stops growing at 12'. So it will only
have branches in its upper 6'. Right now I can't think of anything
quite so obliging.

There is always a Tyburn tree, which has those properties and doesn't
grow much after planting, but its fruits are most unattractive.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

On Feb 25, 4:44*pm, harry wrote:
On Feb 25, 3:52*pm, "AL_n" wrote:





I wonder if anyone could help me decide on which tree to get for my back
garden. I need something to provide a bit of shade, and give some sense of
shelter, as it's a rather exposed coastal site. The soil is very alkaline
and below the shallow topsoil, is stony clay. The site gets fairly windy,
especially in winter. There is lots of sunshine in Summer. It's in the
South West of England with typically only a few nights of frost each year.

I want a tree that will only grow to about 12ft high absolute maximum, so
that it won't obscure the views from the upstairs window. Ideally the
braches will spread outwards for around 8 feet from the trunk, providing a
canopy of dappled shade on a summer's day, that can be walked under without
much obstruction from the branches.

I'd like something that is interesting and attractive, all year round. I
don't want anything too common, such as an apple, pear or cherry, unless
they are the only sensible option. It doesn't have to be a fruit tree.

I'll be planting it about 10ft from the rear of my house, in front of some
French windows that face East. The tree will get full sun for several hours
each sunny day.

I have wondered about a palm, because of the exotic feel they create, but
they seem to be expensive and slow-growing.

Something that develops a twisted, interesting-looking trunk would be
preferable to something with a boringly straight, smooth trunk.

I'd be looking to buying a sapling that is already about 8ft to 10ft tall -
one which would grow outwards, mostly and not gain too much additional
height.

Can anyone suggest anything?

Thank you,

Al

Sounds like you need a bus shelter. * :-)- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Sounds as if you need a comercial size Parasol

Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

On Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:44:52 -0800 (PST), harry
wrote:

On Feb 25, 3:52*pm, "AL_n" wrote:
I wonder if anyone could help me decide on which tree to get for my back
garden. I need something to provide a bit of shade, and give some sense of
shelter, as it's a rather exposed coastal site. The soil is very alkaline
and below the shallow topsoil, is stony clay. The site gets fairly windy,
especially in winter. There is lots of sunshine in Summer. It's in the
South West of England with typically only a few nights of frost each year.

I want a tree that will only grow to about 12ft high absolute maximum, so
that it won't obscure the views from the upstairs window. Ideally the
braches will spread outwards for around 8 feet from the trunk, providing a
canopy of dappled shade on a summer's day, that can be walked under without
much obstruction from the branches.

I'd like something that is interesting and attractive, all year round. I
don't want anything too common, such as an apple, pear or cherry, unless
they are the only sensible option. It doesn't have to be a fruit tree.

I'll be planting it about 10ft from the rear of my house, in front of some
French windows that face East. The tree will get full sun for several hours
each sunny day.

I have wondered about a palm, because of the exotic feel they create, but
they seem to be expensive and slow-growing.

Something that develops a twisted, interesting-looking trunk would be
preferable to something with a boringly straight, smooth trunk.

I'd be looking to buying a sapling that is already about 8ft to 10ft tall -
one which would grow outwards, mostly and not gain too much additional
height.

Can anyone suggest anything?

Thank you,

Al

Sounds like you need a bus shelter. :-)

Or an extremely large patio umbrella!

Something with a tree canopy that's at least 6' above ground, no more
than 6' above that but 16' in diameter is going to look like an alien
mutation. A side effect of that is that if the tree is 16' in diameter
then the root stretch will match it. A oft forgotten thing about trees
is that they don't have any inbuilt programmer that says "stop" when
they reach a certain size. That little 2' gap between the tree and
your house won't be 2' for very long.

I'd suggest you go back to the drawing board and rethink your
specifications a bit.

Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling happily from the dryer end of Swansea Bay.

Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

Sacha wrote in :

A 'small tree is 15' - 26' tall so I think 12' is going to be hard to
attain. Have you looked at Eucalyptus which can be kept at the height
you want? Some of the flowering cherries would be beautiful, like
Prunus Shogetsu but that goes to around 16'

I started off considering a fruit tree - the kind that has been grafted to
dwarf rootstock to limit its height. I may end up going that route. I have
seen cherries with the sort of shape that would suit. I guess I can cut the
lower branches off to achieve a suitable shape if necessary.

On second thoughts, consider a tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica.

That's an interesting idea - thanks. I've never paid attention to these.
They remind me of something from the Mesozoic Era! That would be different,
certainly. Possibly a tad too different, but yes, certainly worth
considering.

Al

Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

On second thoughts, consider a tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica.

That's an interesting idea - thanks. I've never paid attention to these.
They remind me of something from the Mesozoic Era! That would be different,
certainly. Possibly a tad too different, but yes, certainly worth
considering.

Al

Won't give you the spread you want.

Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

"AL_n" wrote in
:

Sacha wrote in
:

A 'small tree is 15' - 26' tall so I think 12' is going to be hard
to attain. Have you looked at Eucalyptus which can be kept at the
height you want?

This was exactly what I nearly opted for last year. I like eucalyptus trees
for the evergreen foliage. I wasn't aware that it could be kept at a
suitable height.

Al

I've got a cherry tree that matches that. Except that the 16ft is mainly to one side of the trunk. And it would look like an alien mutation if it were free standing. (Fortunately, it's growing over the roof of the terrace).

I wonder whether you could do something with something that's slightly weeping. I have a weeping crab apple which is on the right lines. I managed to keep it going upwards by taking out the lowest branches each year, but it's now stopped at about 5ft and is producing only horizontals. Overall effect is indeed of a patio umbrella ;-)

But there might be something that would grow a few feet taller before just producing horizontal branches.

Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

kay wrote in news:kay.9bf50f6
@gardenbanter.co.uk:


I wonder whether you could do something with something that's slightly
weeping. I have a weeping crab apple which is on the right lines. I
managed to keep it going upwards by taking out the lowest branches each
year, but it's now stopped at about 5ft and is producing only
horizontals. Overall effect is indeed of a patio umbrella ;-)

But there might be something that would grow a few feet taller before
just producing horizontal branches.


Thanks... Yes - I have been investigating the weeping trees such as crab
apple, cherry, peach, willow and others, with a special attention to
'slightly weeping' types. I read that the weeping types are more likely to
keep within height limitations. "Semi-weeping" sounds ideal.

Al

Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

On Feb 26, 6:53*am, "AL_n" wrote:
kay wrote in news:kay.9bf50f6
@gardenbanter.co.uk:

I wonder whether you could do something with something that's slightly
weeping. I have a weeping crab apple which is on the right lines. I
managed to keep it going upwards by taking out the lowest branches each
year, but it's now stopped at about 5ft and is producing only
horizontals. Overall effect is indeed of a patio umbrella ;-)

But there might be something that would grow a few feet taller before
just producing horizontal branches.

Thanks... Yes - I have been investigating the weeping trees such as crab
apple, cherry, peach, willow and others, with a special attention to
'slightly weeping' types. I read that the weeping types are more likely to
keep within height limitations. "Semi-weeping" sounds ideal.

Al

I don't think any of these suggestions will grow in an exposed coastal
area with shallow soil.

Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

"AL_n" wrote in message
...
I wonder if anyone could help me decide on which tree to get for my back
garden. I need something to provide a bit of shade, and give some sense of
shelter, as it's a rather exposed coastal site. The soil is very alkaline
and below the shallow topsoil, is stony clay. The site gets fairly windy,
especially in winter. There is lots of sunshine in Summer. It's in the
South West of England with typically only a few nights of frost each year.

I want a tree that will only grow to about 12ft high absolute maximum, so
that it won't obscure the views from the upstairs window. Ideally the
braches will spread outwards for around 8 feet from the trunk, providing a
canopy of dappled shade on a summer's day, that can be walked under
without
much obstruction from the branches.

I'd like something that is interesting and attractive, all year round. I
don't want anything too common, such as an apple, pear or cherry, unless
they are the only sensible option. It doesn't have to be a fruit tree.

I'll be planting it about 10ft from the rear of my house, in front of some
French windows that face East. The tree will get full sun for several
hours
each sunny day.

I have wondered about a palm, because of the exotic feel they create, but
they seem to be expensive and slow-growing.

Something that develops a twisted, interesting-looking trunk would be
preferable to something with a boringly straight, smooth trunk.

I'd be looking to buying a sapling that is already about 8ft to 10ft
tall -
one which would grow outwards, mostly and not gain too much additional
height.

Can anyone suggest anything?


As Sacha has suggested it is unlikely you will find a tree which will
magically meet all you requirements - including a 10' sapling which will not
grow above 12'.
If 12' is the maximum natural height then a 10' specimen will be a mature
tree at almost full height.

If you want to plant a 12' tree 10' from your house this is possibly not
advisable because the roots are likely to grow as broadly as the height of
the tree.
That close, a container grown tree might be more sensible.

To achieve your ideal you will probably have to prune a tree to limit the
height, and remove lower branches to give a canopy effect.

You might consider a container grown tree in a very large pot.
This allows you to manage the height and the root spread.

Cheers

Dave R
--
No plan survives contact with the enemy.
[Not even bunny]

Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

"AL_n" wrote ...

I wonder if anyone could help me decide on which tree to get for my back
garden. I need something to provide a bit of shade, and give some sense of
shelter, as it's a rather exposed coastal site. The soil is very alkaline
and below the shallow topsoil, is stony clay. The site gets fairly windy,
especially in winter. There is lots of sunshine in Summer. It's in the
South West of England with typically only a few nights of frost each year.

I want a tree that will only grow to about 12ft high absolute maximum, so
that it won't obscure the views from the upstairs window. Ideally the
braches will spread outwards for around 8 feet from the trunk, providing a
canopy of dappled shade on a summer's day, that can be walked under without
much obstruction from the branches.

I'd like something that is interesting and attractive, all year round. I
don't want anything too common, such as an apple, pear or cherry, unless
they are the only sensible option. It doesn't have to be a fruit tree.

I'll be planting it about 10ft from the rear of my house, in front of some
French windows that face East. The tree will get full sun for several hours
each sunny day.

I have wondered about a palm, because of the exotic feel they create, but
they seem to be expensive and slow-growing.

Something that develops a twisted, interesting-looking trunk would be
preferable to something with a boringly straight, smooth trunk.

I'd be looking to buying a sapling that is already about 8ft to 10ft tall -
one which would grow outwards, mostly and not gain too much additional
height.

Can anyone suggest anything?

A friend in France has a tree that is mostly as you request and it's called
Albizia julibrissin**, the Silk Tree, although it loves sun and can take any
low temperature you might get it does hate winter wet which may well be a
problem in the SW where the grass is always green. You may also have a
problem in the UK getting one already pruned and trained to the shape you
want, most I've seen for sale are the red leaved ones and very small.
** I think it's var.rosea which has better coloured flowers.
Eventually if it survives it will get a bit bigger than you want but they
keep their's under control easily.
--
Regards
Bob Hobden
Posting to this Newsgroup
from the W.of London. UK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHwwwJ83oWo

Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

On 25/02/2012 18:21, Sacha wrote:

On second thoughts, consider a tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica. You
can buy it at the height you want and as they grow so very slowly,
you'll probably be happy. It won't be cheap at that height though.
Stuff the crown with dead leaves or bracken or straw (NOT plastic or
bubble wrap) in winter to protect from frost. And in dry and hot
spells, water at least once a day from the crown. We have several in
the garden here in varying locations but two are in a very sunny spot.
They also came through last winter after a slow start and have still
got their fronds now, albeit somewhat battered looking.

The OP said exposed coastal site and windy. AFAIAA the natural habitat
of tree ferns is forest areas well protected from winds. I would also
doubt that their leaves are salt-resistant, although the leaves of some
ferns are pretty leathery. Do tree ferns grow near the coast down your way?

--

Jeff

Help - choosing a tree for my back garden
 

On 25/02/2012 15:52, AL_n wrote:
I wonder if anyone could help me decide on which tree to get for my back
garden. I need something to provide a bit of shade, and give some sense of
shelter, as it's a rather exposed coastal site. The soil is very alkaline
and below the shallow topsoil, is stony clay. The site gets fairly windy,
especially in winter. There is lots of sunshine in Summer. It's in the
South West of England with typically only a few nights of frost each year.

I want a tree that will only grow to about 12ft high absolute maximum, so
that it won't obscure the views from the upstairs window. Ideally the
braches will spread outwards for around 8 feet from the trunk, providing a
canopy of dappled shade on a summer's day, that can be walked under without
much obstruction from the branches.

I'd like something that is interesting and attractive, all year round. I
don't want anything too common, such as an apple, pear or cherry, unless
they are the only sensible option. It doesn't have to be a fruit tree.

I'll be planting it about 10ft from the rear of my house, in front of some
French windows that face East. The tree will get full sun for several hours
each sunny day.

I have wondered about a palm, because of the exotic feel they create, but
they seem to be expensive and slow-growing.

Something that develops a twisted, interesting-looking trunk would be
preferable to something with a boringly straight, smooth trunk.

I'd be looking to buying a sapling that is already about 8ft to 10ft tall -
one which would grow outwards, mostly and not gain too much additional
height.

Can anyone suggest anything?

Thank you,

One alternative is to create a framework for climbers, rather than have
one tree. A single, sturdy, pole with a crossbeam top would allow you
to set the height and spread. One or more evergreen or deciduous
climbers could provide shade and flower at different times of the year.
You could even choose a fruiting climber if you wanted - if your soil
is as poor and chalky as you say, a grapevine wouldn't go amiss.

--

Jeff