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• Message 1. 

  Posted by nannavonna (U14328969) on Saturday, 31st July 2010

  Any suggestions for a small tree to fit into a small front garden, Even a shrub that grows tall would be good. Preferably not a fruit tree. Thanks for help

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by michelle78 (U7007319) on Saturday, 31st July 2010

  loads of small trees out there, but not knowing anything about your soil, aspect etc do some research on what would suit your site.
  
  but
  
  - sorbus vilmorinii - all year round good tree.
  - amelanchier - tree or shrub, prune to suit.
  - magnolia stellata
  - Prunus autumnalis
  
  would be my recommendations
  Mich

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• Message 3

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  Posted by bookertoo (U3655866) on Saturday, 31st July 2010

  gosh that really is a'how long is a bit of string' question. What do you want from your tree? I know not fruit, but do you want dappled shade, evergreen, berries, flowers, to attract birds? Do you have acid/alkali soil? Where does the sun come from, is it a damp or cold site, or with a lot of wind? There are so many things to consider before you make your choice. Do you want to prune regularly or leave more or less alone. Are there flower or vegetable beds nearby, and would shade be a bother to those?
  
  We planted a silver birch as our Millenium tree, it is lovely but might be too big for your purposes. Maybe use a good arboretum/tree sale site and put in as much information as you can in their search area, and see what they suggest. Then you could research those suggestions and see what you like? Or you could just ignore what they say and plant what you like and love it anyway - often works best really!

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  Posted by As_Iff (U13951957) on Saturday, 31st July 2010

  If your garden is very small, I`d suggest a Standard Rose (there are many varieties to choose from) or a Kilmarnock willow.
  If you decide on a shrub, the choice is almost endless, maybe an evergreen box, kept trimmed into a tall pyramid shape.
  A Japanese acer (like Acer japonicum Aconitifolium) is quite upright, and is planted for its nice leaves.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by nannavonna (U14328969) on Friday, 27th August 2010

  Thanks fo your info, an japaneses acer will probably be the choice afeter looking at various trees.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by jfw (U14596809) on Saturday, 28th August 2010

  Mich, I'd just like to tap into your knowledge about trees! I too am looking for a small tree, ideally one which I can keep in a large pot and which will look lovely (and preferably purple!) at the end of September/start of October! Not much to ask for! Does such a tree exist? jfw

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• Message 7

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  Posted by Lavande (U2362070) on Sunday, 29th August 2010

  jfw and nannavonna I spotted your question minutes after being on a tree site - I spotted a couple of purple trees which might interest you. I know nothing about them (whether or not they would be happy in a container) but the site might help you see what's available and Mich may be able to give you more info jfw.
  
  
  
  'Acer palmatum Trompenburg'
  
  'Acer palmatum var. dissectum Inaba-shidare'
  
  'Acer palmatum Bloodgood'

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• Message 8

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  Posted by garyhobson (U11055016) on Sunday, 29th August 2010

  Here's a purple acer growing in a pot:
  
  
  That one is not mine, although I do have a similar purple acer which is growing in a pot.
  
  It's purple throughout the Summer. It is deciduous and will drop its leaves as we go into Winter.
  
  Acers are very particular about their soil, and they should be grown in ericaceaous compost.
  
  In a pot, it needs watering. It's important not to use straight tap-water. Use rain-water, or tap water with some ericaceaous feed added.

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• Message 9

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  Posted by bookertoo (U3655866) on Sunday, 29th August 2010

  I grow just about anything in a pot, we have about 450 in the garden, ranging from a few inches to several feet across and deep. One of them contains an oak tree, and there are several acers. You can grow anything in a pot if you are prepared to put in the time and effort needed to keep it happy. They need not only correct compost, but excellent drainage, watering even when it rains as they cannot send their roots out beyond their own canopy to find water, feeding and sensible pruning. You have to be prepared and willing to supply all its needs all year around, which is why we don't go on holiday from March till September/October - but I admit that comes under the heading of obsession!
  
  

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  Posted by Salino (U2550900) on Sunday, 29th August 2010

  I'm amazed at that bookertoo, but just out of interest and hope you can reply here, but of all your potted plants which one would you say has thrived the most, or is your particular favourite and how long do you keep them in pots for, do any ever get transplanted into the ground? Just wondered

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• Message 11

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  Posted by bookertoo (U3655866) on Sunday, 29th August 2010

  I think it is not possible to say which is my favourite plant in a pot, I shall borrow a phrase from the late, great and sadly missed Christopher Lloyd, when asked what was his favorite plant he replied ' whichever one I am looking at at the moment', and I cannot do better than he did - any anything.
  
  Just about everything thrives well because everything can get its own hearts desire of compost, watering and so on, provided you are willing to put the time and effort into assuring that happens. We did not set out to have hundreds of pots, it sort of grew on us. For a few years we had to move every year for work reasons, and in each place I grew a few more things in pots, taking them with us at each move. By the time we came to this house and - hopefuly - setted here, we already had a goodly number of pots. Then came the realisation we could not dig into some borders because of tree roots, and I wanted to grow hostas in slug citycentral, so pots seemed to be the answer. Then each time we saw a plant we liked, and the question was asked 'where can we put it' the answer always was = well, it could always go in a pot I suppose, and so it did.
  
  We do have borders too, and a fruit cage, and a greenhouse, with some pots in it, stuffed full in winter with tender things, I even magaged to get a few strawberry pots in the fruit cage! However, I must admit that we are reunning out of space now - if we really want to keep the bit of green grass there is in the centre for sitting and to break the view for the eye.
  
  Many things do well in pots, lilies for example, acers, spring bulbs, you can show them off then put the pots down by the shed to get fed and left till next Spring. You can plant trees where there is no soil, and allow creepers up the house where nothing can be planted. It really does give alot of freedom for planting - but does firmly glue you to staying at home all Spring and Summer at the very least, you cannot ask the kindest neighbour to water the number of pots we have.
  
  Sorry this is such a long posting, but you did ask.............

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  Posted by Salino (U2550900) on Sunday, 29th August 2010

  thanks for replying. It's nice to hear of someone prepared to go to so much trouble, although half a dozen pots would be enough for me personally. I do like to grow bulbs in pots though and Camellias, but it's good to hear of just how much can be grown that way.

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• Message 13

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  Posted by mister-grow-it-all (U14591945) on Monday, 30th August 2010

  hi i chosed Prunus 'Amanogawa' for a small a grden good sping colour, with nice red foliage for the winter

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• Message 14

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by michelle78 (U7007319) on Monday, 30th August 2010

  Hi JFW,
  
  I'm no tree expert, but i do love them.
  
  A japanese acer (A. palmatum) may well be your best bet if you want it to stay in a pot. You can find purple leaved forms of most trees, some are better than others, and some start purple and go green. It doesn't have to be ericaceous compost, as long as its not mushroom compost and you water with rain water not tap, that should be not-limey enough to keep the acer happy. The thing they hate far far more is being in an exposed site where they get scorched by wind. I need to move mine from where it is; its leaves are all curled and crisped at the ends where its been in a wind tunnel between the conservatory and the house. If you can tuck it behind a fence, wall or hedge that protects from the wind your tree will be happy.
  
  If you are keeping it in a pot, remember to scrape out the top inch or so of compost every year and replace with fresh, give it plenty of blood, fish and bone and a quarterly feed of seaweed extract.
  
  If space is problem (hence the pot) and it is exposed you could try a Cotinus. You can cut them hard back once the leaves have dropped in the autumn to keep it small and there are some beautiful purple leaved varieties that look georgeous backlit with autumn setting sun.
  
  Mich

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