Nice 'mini trees' for front of house

[ireallyhavenoidea]

Hi

Our new house has quite a long front wall which includes 3 brick columns which a friend recommended we put little trees (I think she was thinking bay type) in front of, inside, so that we have something to look at from our windows. I think this is a great idea and am especially excited about putting Christmas tree lights on them!

The columns are 1.4m and I am really not a gardener so they will need to be fairly easy maintenance. I have looked around a couple of garden centres but am not sure how high some trees grow etc. so was wondering if anyone on here has any ideas.

I don't think I want holly trees (although they were lovely) but something that will look good all year round.

Can anyone recommend anything for me? And where I can get good ones?

Thanks

[Saffyz]

Are you thinking of standard trees, like these?

[bigwellylittlewelly]

Standard bay tree or a Japanese cherry? Truly stunning in spring.

[ireallyhavenoidea]

Thanks for the answers.

Great site Saffyz.

Bigwelly, I think Japanese cherry blossom grows too big. They are very beautiful though! I guess something pot bound that will be the height roughly of the wall and that will not grow higher.

[bumperella]

You need to think of trees you can clip to shape - like bay trees, which can grow pretty big, but most people trim them to size.

Bay trees are lovely, slow growing, evergreen, but not as winter-hardy as some other choices.
Is it going to live in a pot or be planted into the ground? If in a pot you might want to consider something reasonably drought-tolerant!
There are lots of options for evergreen trees and shrubs suitable to be clipped into shape, the best thing to do is think of what conditions will be like - eg How sunny is it? How windy? What's the soil like (eg is it claggy sticky clay? or more gritty and sandy?), How cold does it get where you are?
Try the RHS plant selector for ideas - choose the conditions and that you want something evergreen suitable for topiary and it should spit out a few ideas!

[Humuhumunukunukuapuaa]

Olives

I am not a gardener but we've got a couple of olives in pots. They're nice :)

[onefewernow]

Don't buy small trees. Better to buy large shrubs and train the as trees- it works a treat.

[onefewernow]

See " don't downsize your trees, upsize a shrub", Telegraph, 12 march 12. You can google it.

[Monty27]

I'm thinking shrubs too. Box is lovely and Bay.

[ireallyhavenoidea]

Thanks for the new replies. Off to google shrubs!

[itsnothingoriginal]

Photinia red robin is a lovely shrub and can be bought or trained as a small standard tree.

[ireallyhavenoidea]

That's really pretty itsnothing. Thanks :)

[seventiesgirl]

I second the Photinia.