How to choose new trees for your garden

If you’ve got a garden, there’s a chance you’ve toyed with the idea of planting one or more trees in it. Trees can add so much to a garden, from colour and texture to shade and screening. But picking the right one can be a tricky business. However, if you ask yourself these five simple questions, it can be easy to find a suitable specimen for your garden. We are answering your question on How to choose new trees for your garden.

How much space do you have?

Firstly, you can easily narrow down your selection by shortlisting those that are the right size for the space you have. But remember, it’s not the size of the tree you buy that’s important but the size it’s likely to grow to. 

For instance, a colourful birch tree such as ‘Polar Bear’ or ‘Fascination’ can end up more than eight metres wide once it’s mature. Whereas a compact Japanese acer such as ‘Beni-maiko’ or Amelanchier such as ‘Prince William’ will have a much smaller spread, between 1.5m and 2.5m. Smaller trees like these can also be grown in a container, which helps them to fit into petite spaces such as courtyard gardens and patios. 

What are the conditions in your garden like?

Secondly, you need to consider the conditions in your garden, particularly where you plan to put your tree. Is your garden sunny and open? Dry and sheltered? Or shady and damp? Is the soil type a crumbly chalk or clumpy clay?

Some species can be fussy or need certain light and ground conditions to grow. For example, cherry trees can struggle in clay soils but hardy crab apple trees can typically survive in any soil type. Therefore, you can narrow your selection further by finding trees with characteristics that match the conditions in your garden. 

Coupled with this, you need to consider the local climate. Do you live in an area that sees a lot of rain or typically has long dry spells and heat waves? Is this likely to increase in the future? Trees live for a long time, so you need to find one that’s going to cope with the changing conditions. 

How much time do you have?

Next, it’s prudent to think about the level of maintenance involved. Some trees need more looking after than others. 

It’s easy to think that larger tree species, such as lime, poplar and beech, will take up more of your time. But this isn’t necessarily true. A tree surgeon can handle the big jobs for you, such as trimming and reshaping. And you should be able to arrange regular inspections to check their health. 

In fact, some smaller tree species could take up more of your time. For instance, some apple and pear trees need a lot of training, pruning and feeding while tree ferns need protecting in cold weather and spraying with water during hot spells. So, do check the ongoing care needs of the trees you’re considering.

What function will the tree serve?

Trees come in many shapes, sizes and colours and perform differently throughout the seasons. So, this is another thing to consider carefully when choosing a tree for your garden. Ideally, you want a tree with characteristics that meet some or all of your requirements. 

One of the best ways to do this is to ask yourself what function you want the tree to serve. How would you like it to add to your garden or enhance your life? Is it for shade, screening, colour or fruit? Is it to remind you of a place or a cherished memory? Will it act as a windbreak or focal point? Are you using it to line a path? Or to hide a boundary or an ugly building? Will it be to help cut out noise or to frame a view out of the window? 

If you’re after seasonal colour, you might choose a tree that blossoms in spring and provides rich orange hues in autumn. If it’s for screening, you might choose a tree with thick foliage or that is tall and columnar like a Cyprus tree. To create shade or a centrepiece, you might prefer a tree that branches out more such as a beech or weeping willow. 

How will it fit into your existing garden scheme?

Lastly, you should ask yourself how the tree is going to fit in with your existing garden scheme. Does your garden have an overall style – such as a traditional, contemporary, urban or wildlife garden – that your tree needs to work with? 

You might also want to consider whether you’re planning on planting one or multiple trees. You might be looking for one show-stopping tree to perk up a flat area of lawn or a mix of trees to add interest. If you’re going with multiple trees, do you want them to look uniform like in a topiary garden or more natural? 

It’s also wise to consider what you’re planting around and under your tree. For instance, you may plant a tree to throw dappled shade onto a border. This would enable you to grow woodland flowers such as bluebells and anemones.