Best trees for small yards

So you've got the hankering for something leafy, shade-lending, perhaps even flowering. But you don't have the yard space. There are plenty of lovely options in trees for small yards, including the common witch hazel. Bright, fragrant, fringe-like flowers appear on bare branches in late winter. This long-lived tree stands up well to extreme cold, moderate wind, even urban pollution.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Paper Birch (

Peeling bark reveals itself on a tall, narrow form that doesn't steal all the sunlight from surrounding plants. Its cold tolerance makes this a good selection in far-northern climates, although it will also do well in alkaline soils further south (Ohio and Illinois).

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Weeping Birch (Betula pendula)

Graceful weeping birches grow shorter and wider than the species, making them well suited to the smallest yards. Their yellow autumn foliage adds late-season interest.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Eastern Redbud (

Though tolerant of winter cold, the redbud likes the warm summers of its native Appalachian habitat. Its rosy-magenta spring flowers, heart-shaped leaves, and compact form translate well to suburban settings.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Mimosa (

A common sight in California, these feathery, pink-flowering trees like it hot and dry, with free-draining soil. Place away from the wind.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Smoke Tree (

Flowers appear in cloudlike puffs against dark bronze or purple foliage in summer. This southeastern native tolerates dry, acidic soil.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Serviceberry (

White flowers in spring and purple-red berries in fall distinguish this small multi-stemmed or single-trunk tree, which thrives in a wide range of conditions. Songbirds—as well as less welcome backyard interlopers, like deer and bears—relish the edible fruits.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Red Buckeye (

Clusters of red or coral flowers appear on this Southern native in late summer. A small-scale relative of the giant horse chestnut, its leaves are toxic to deer—a quality many wildlife-plagued landscapers in the Northeast may envy.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Kousa Dogwood (

With a bushier growth habit than its elegantly branching American cousin, this Asian native wins fans for its star-shaped summer flowers, good fall color, and large, dangly red late-season fruits.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Japanese cherry (

This four-season performer—with attractive bark, confetti-pink spring blossoms, and serrated leaves that turn orange and red fall—is easily pruned to manageable proportions. Cold hardy to -10 degrees F.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Dogwood (

Few spring-flowering trees are more shade tolerant than this native American species. The elliptical leaves turn red in fall, when the tree bears small, bright-red fruits. The slow-growing trees favor free-draining neutral or acid soil and a temperate climate; hardy to -20 degrees F. More than 20 species are available in nurseries, including varieties with variegated leaves, like 'Welchii'.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Japanese maples (

Nurseries carry hundreds of varieties, including many bushy or mounding trees that grow no larger than a standard shrub. Here, a red-leafed cultivar joins a spiky yucca and a variety of low-maintenance groundcovers—including a cascade of rocks—in a high-visibility, low-maintenance island near a driveway. Cold hardy to -10 degrees F.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Ever Red Laceleaf Maple (

This popular dark-leafed Japanese maple has deep purple-bronze leaves that turn fiery red in autumn.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Globe blue spruce (

Conifers classified as "dwarf" in nursery terms, like this chubby spruce, have the same genetic makeup as their more generously proportioned cousins: They just grow more slowly and, therefore, stay compact longer, making them well suited to small lots. According to the American Conifer Society, dwarf varieties grow about three to six inches a year, while their large relatives sprout up and out at twice that rate.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Dwarf Alberta spruce (

This native of the Canadian Rockies thrives in tight spaces—even containers—where their pyramidal form enhances the garden's geometry. Stays under 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide and is cold hardy to -30 degrees F.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see if you can grow this tree.

Ideas for a small garden: ornamental trees, shrubs and plants for a small garden, photos and tips

If the garden is small in size, this does not mean that you can forget about it. A few simple ideas will turn it into heaven on earth!

A small garden is somewhat similar to a theater stage, because everything is in plain sight: walls, paths, sheds and, of course, the main characters are plants. A tree, bush, grass, creeping ivy or flowers should look great all year round, because you look at them not only in the garden, but also from home. Even those plants that shed their leaves for the winter must be attractive.

The garden is a natural extension of the house, so it is better to think over every centimeter of the site and plant only those plants that will fully justify the space they occupy. So how do you know which plants to choose? Our recommendations will help you.

Claire Stevens Interior Design

The simpler the better
Simplicity is the key to small garden design, and this applies to both small architectural forms (paths, stairs, etc.) and plants. You will have to control yourself and stop at one type of tree, two or three types of shrubs and two or three flowering plants. You can diversify the composition with the help of outdoor pots and flowerpots of various shapes, but the choice of plants should still be as simple as possible. A good example is this small garden in Brisbane.

brucele

No tree, no garden
All gardens, even those that are the size of a shoebox, look better with a tree in them. Wood is a necessary vertical landscape design element that helps to balance the horizontal planes of paths, lawns and fences. They adorn the garden with foliage, fragrant flowers and berries, birds nest on their branches.

Compact ornamental trees for a small garden can be planted in large pots if space is limited. Possible options include small cherry, apple, plum, lemon, dogwood, crimson, large-flowered or star magnolia, Japanese maple (pictured), olive, birch and pear.

Monrovia

Talents and Fans
Wherever possible, follow the advice of landscape designers and try to buy plants that have more than one merit. Pretty blooms are not the most compelling reason to buy a plant (unless, of course, you are crazy about this particular species). It should also have beautiful foliage, good shape and, if possible, a pleasant aroma or bright berries (albeit inedible).

Think also of the practical functions that plants can perform. They can be used as a hedge or as a canopy to protect from the sun or wind. Many plants bear fruit (cherry, dog rose, dogwood). If the plant that you like has at least three positive qualities, then most likely it will suit you.

Habitat Design

Protecting your privacy
The garden is a place to relax, so it is very important that you can hide from prying eyes here. But how to achieve this in a small garden? Build high walls? An alternative would be a hedge of plants that grow upward while maintaining a slender silhouette.

A good result can be achieved by planting red hawthorn, spruce, thuja, juniper, as well as flowering trees and shrubs ─ ornamental apple and plum trees, tree hydrangea, coronal mock orange, various types of lilacs and forsythia.

Laara Copley-Smith Garden & Landscape Design

Higher and higher
Creeping plants are ideal for a small garden. Not only do they take up little space on the ground, but they can also form a green canopy, which comes in handy if you have a small garden next to which your neighbors' tall mansions stand. Creeps can also be used to decorate a wall that you don't like the look of.

Most varieties can be planted in pots and trimmed as needed. There is a wide variety of species of creeping shrubs and grasses, including the sweet-scented star jasmine (pictured). Other varieties of creeping shrubs are pyrostegia, akebia quintuple (with an unusual smell) and Azorean jasmine.

Monrovia

About the benefits of shrubs
Small shrubs like camellias are the basis of almost any planting scheme. They are simply indispensable in small gardens, because they have lush foliage, but do not take up as much space as trees.

Other advantages of shrubs include bright flowers and berries, as well as the ability to form borders and fences. Such unpretentious and “multi-tasking” shrubs will surely suit you - such as boxwood, camellia, lavender, choisia and many types of viburnum.

Barbara Pintozzi

Semiflower
Tiered planting is a good option for smaller gardens. The bottom row is occupied by colorful flowering perennials or low-growing shrubs, the top row is occupied by creepers or low trees. Choose one species of flowering perennial and form clumps at the foot of a wall or fence, as well as at the base of trees, to fill in unnecessary voids. For these purposes, yarrow, decorative flax, daylily (pictured), iris, geyhera, carnation, undersized kniphofia and rudbeckia are suitable.

Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Garden
Even a small area can be a garden. Herbs and vegetables do well in containers. Today there are also many low-growing fruit trees that can be planted in large pots and tubs.

Glenna Partridge Garden Design

An unusual mix
Some edible plants such as the artichoke (pictured left), rhubarb and lemongrass are so showy that they are planted simply for beauty. If you plant edible and ornamental plants together, you will not only get an unexpected composition, but also save space. Red cabbage, sage, and basil help add color, while parsley, rosemary, and onion make a lovely border.

Gumleaf Gardens

In deep shade
Many gardens are permanently shaded due to the high walls of neighboring houses. Don't let this inconvenience rob you of your dream of gardening. There are many beautiful plants that thrive even in the absence of sun. Among them are clivia (pictured), fern, wolfberry, fuchsia, geyhera, balsam, some types of daylilies, taro and rhododendron.

Popular low trees for landscaping. Photo - Botanichka

Not everyone has a place in the yard for a giant ship pine or a huge oak. But, fortunately, there are many dwarf trees suitable for small gardens. Such trees usually grow no more than 4-4.5 meters in height. Not only do they fit easily into landscaping, but they are also less labor intensive to maintain than large trees. In this article, I would like to talk about my favorite low trees that you should pay attention to when planting a small garden.

Benefits of low trees

Although dwarf trees are small, they can still make a big contribution to the landscape. We love dwarf breeds for their diminutive size, unique shapes and of course the color of the leaves or flowers. When choosing trees for small gardens, it is extremely important to find out the maximum height of the tree and how long it will take for it to be able to reach this height. Some species grow slowly and initially fit very well in a small garden. But over time, they can grow too large and take up all the available space, blocking light and potentially damaging your home's foundation.

Fortunately, there are many species and cultivars of compact trees that remain compact throughout their lives. A well-chosen and well-placed tree will become an attractive center of attention and will attract interest throughout the year. Cropping is usually an easier task in this case.

If you have a small yard, focus on vertical space. That is, choose plants with vertical growth and a narrow crown to make the most of the available space.

In addition to foliage plants that will brighten the garden throughout the season, or flowering plants that bloom in spring or early summer, look for trees with berries to attract birds and provide them with nesting sites.

If you don't know where to place your tree, growing it in a pot may be the solution. In this case, you can place it in different places and take it with you in case of a move. This method of growing is also useful if you need to protect a heat-loving tree in winter by moving it to a frost-free room.

1. Flamingo Ash Maple

Flamingo Ash Maple ( Acer negundo ‘Flamingo’ ) is a delightful little tree. Its young leaves turn bright pink in spring, after which they turn green with a bright pink edging, which subsequently fades to creamy white, retaining a very light pink tint.

Unlike the ash-leaved (American) maple common in urban landscaping, this variety is not very winter-hardy and never grows tall. In the middle lane, it is usually grown as a coppice crop, that is, freezing this small tree (up to 5 m tall), recovering from the root in the spring, remaining in the size of a bush (2-2.5 m).

Lighter and brighter maple foliage contrasts well with darker coniferous or deciduous plants and flowers. Suitable for all soil types provided good drainage is ensured. Can be grown in full sun or partial shade. Shearing improves the color of the foliage.

2. Ornamental Apple Trees

Add some dramatic seasonal color to your landscape with Ornamental Apple Trees ( Malus ). This group includes plants with purple foliage, carved leaves, but their main decoration are flowers of various shades of white, pink and red, and in autumn they have orange, gold, red or burgundy fruits. One of the most popular ornamental apple varieties 'Royalty' with deep pink flowers, reddish purple foliage and high disease resistance.

Ornamental apple trees have a weeping, rounded or columnar crown shape. The height of such apple trees may vary, but usually does not exceed 4 m. Growing conditions - open sun, medium humidity, well-drained soil. In some varieties of ornamental apple trees, the fruits can be edible, but often they are tasteless or even cause symptoms of poisoning, which must always be considered.

3. Willow 'Hakuro Nishiki'

Willow 'Hakuro Nishiki' ( Salix Integra Hakuro Nishiki ) is the perfect plant to spice up dull places and make them look attractive. The rounded silhouette of this miniature tree makes it an excellent accent plant. A trouble-free large shrub or small tree (up to 3 m tall), which grows quickly and will become a real highlight of the landscape. It is distinguished by bright, color-changing leaves, due to which the bush may appear pink from a distance.

The young leaves of this willow are pink in spring, after which they turn white and green, and by autumn they turn yellow. One of the best qualities of this shrub, besides the color, is the soothing sound the leaves make when the wind blows over them.

'Hakuro-Nishiki' willow is considered a low maintenance shrub and grows easily in fertile soils that are well drained but consistently moist. Although it tolerates drier soils than other willows, it still requires regular moisture. This willow lends itself well to shearing. You can also often see it for sale in the form of a grafted tree on a trunk.

The only problem that can arise with such a willow is the partial freezing of branches in a harsh winter, however, the tree quickly recovers.

Read also our article Variegated willows in my garden are beautiful at any time of the year.

4. Buckthorn alder "Fastigiata"

Buckthorn alder "Fastigiata" ( Frangula alnus ‘ Fastigiata’, Ron Williams ) - the most original compact tree with a columnar crown, which from a distance can resemble cypress. This is a hardy plant that does not require special care. The slow growing tree is often grown as an addition to Japanese gardens or as the center of small arrangements. In adulthood it reaches a height of about 2.5 m.

The leaves are narrow, light green in summer and bright yellow in autumn. The bark is interesting for its bright color, so the tree is beautiful even after the leaves have fallen. Can grow in full sun, but thrives best in partial shade. The breed is so hardy that it can be easily grown outdoors or in containers (hardy down to -40°C). Almost any soil is suitable for buckthorn, except for marshy ones.

5.

Most rowan ( Sorbus ) have beautiful feathery leaves, snow-white spring inflorescences and bright autumn berries. They are excellent trees for attracting garden birds such as robins and blackbirds. They like rowan berries, which are rich in nutrients.

An excellent choice for a small garden are the sweet-fruited varieties of mountain ash, which do not grow large and have a very original look. For example, rowan "Pomegranate" with very large maroon-red edible fruits does not exceed 4 m. Or mountain ash "Titan" with sweet and sour cherry-red berries, 3 m high. Variety "Pendula" is a real sculpture in garden, as this weeping mountain ash forms bizarre shapes on a stem and does not grow tall.

I also advise you to pay attention to rowan Kene or its relative Kashmiri , which amaze the imagination with snow-white or slightly pinkish fruits. The foliage of such a mountain ash is more openwork, and in autumn it is bright red. Often found grafted onto a trunk. Tree height 3-4 m.

6. Hazel

Fruit cultivars of hazel or hazelnut ( Corylus avellana ), which are grown mainly for their nuts, are also usually small trees 3-4.5 m and are well suited to small gardens, although it must be borne in mind that they, as a rule, have a fairly wide crown.

Ornamental varieties of hazel grow more slowly and at the same time are more compact, in addition, they usually have a very original look. For example, hazel "Kontorta" with twisted branches and deformed green leaves. Or hazel "Red Majestic", which also has twisted branches and bright red compressed leaves. Both trees do not exceed 3 m.

Hazel "Pendula" has a very unusual type of umbrella or hut with a weeping crown, which has a height of 2 m and a width of 2. 5 m. A very bright color in decorative hazel "Aurea" , 3 m high, which can become a good partner for numerous red-leaved hazelnut varieties.

Hazel prefers fertile, moisture-intensive soils, does not grow well in dry conditions. The place should be sunny or slightly shady.

7. Dwarf conifers

Conifers can make excellent dwarf ornamental trees. They can be easily trimmed and trained to stay short all their lives. Small specimens can be found in almost all popular species of conifers.

For example, thuja with a columnar crown for small areas: Yellow Ribbon (4 m), Sunkist (3 m), Reingold (2-3 m), Malonana Holub (1 m), Holmstrup (3 m), Green Egg (2 m).

Read also our article Thuja or juniper - what to choose?

Small blue spruces : "Glauka Glosoza" and "Mantgomery" initially grow in the form of a ball, then become pyramidal up to 2. 5 m high. Varieties "Bialobok" and "Maygold" will delight you with bright yellow growth, and the height of an adult tree will not exceed 3 m.

3-4 m with a diameter of 1 m) and mountain pine "Mumpitz" (height 2 m, width 1.5 m).