I want to plant an English oak - talk some sense into me!

[AmIAWeed]

I am reading conflicting advice online - my head says don't do it....but my heart says do it.

In short, we have a front garden which is 15 metres deep.
I'd like to plant an English oak to help hide the hideous building opposite as well as a couple of other trees, I'm thinking a sweet chestnut and potentially an evergreen - weeping white spruce if I can find one online large enough.
However, the only place for the oak, whilst 20 metres from the house is only really 6 metres from the nearest drain pipe. I could plant it right in the very corner to gain an extra 3 metres but then it wont actually hide what I want to disguise for quite a few years.

I have drawn a rather poor plan!
Showing what we currently have.
Pink stars are where I propose the 3 new trees to go
orange/brown is the drain cover and pipe

So assuming the oak is a ridiculous idea (please tell me it isn't?!) What else would you plant there?
Ground is loamy , relatively windy site - South west facing

Neighbouring properties have sycamores, and horse chestnuts. Quite a few yews around.
The two established silver birch we have are about 15 metres tall

[onedayiwillmissthis]

When you say...you could plant it right in the very corner? I assume you mean further for your building/drains?


Have you considered the distance from he tree(s) to other people's properties? Public utilities? Etc...

[Harebellmeadow]

The three new trees are too close together. How about just the oak? It is the best native for wildlife.

[MissWilmottsGhost]

I love trees, and have quite a few in my small garden (8m x 16m). But I deliberately chose trees with a 10y height of less than 5m, or fastigate (upright rather than spreading), or fruit/nut trees which can be pruned or coppiced if they outgrow their space.

If you want to plant an oak, then do be aware of how big they get - width as well as height. Consider the future and ongoing cost of a tree surgeon to keep it within bounds.

I would love an oak tree. Hippy neighbours have planted one in their front garden 3m from the house and under electric cables, so I will enjoy that one until it inevitably gets chopped down

[MissWilmottsGhost]

Agree with harebell your plan has 3 very large trees very close together.

You should consider 10year size as least. Width as well as height.

Otherwise you will just have to chop them down later.

If you really want an oak, then forget the spruce and chestnut. Choose smaller but faster growing trees to go with it, you can then enjoy the small trees while the oak gets established, and then cut down the small trees to allow the oak space as it grows.

I would recommend a rowan and/or cherry.

[billybagpuss]

I really wouldn’t, I know this one is famously very old but once you’ve planted such a noble tree do you really want to have to take it out because it’s too big and in the wrong place?

[brizzledrizzle]

I'd also recommend a rowan or a cherry - we have two rowan trees, a cherry and a magnolia in our garden and all are a reasonable size for an average garden. The rowan trees can grow as they wish and we keep the cherry and magnolia the size we want them by pruning them once or twice a year.

[AmIAWeed]

Ok, so I'm getting 3 big trees would be too much. I'm really not a fan of rowen trees, although a cherry would be a possibility.
My biggest issue is height, hence wanting such large trees.
Our property and garden is lower than street level, the building opposite towers up on the other side of the road. However where I'm looking at Planting is a good 6 metres from the road due to the verge and hedge we have already. If it went more in the corner it would be further from our drains but no closer to anyone elses property or telegraph poles. The house next to us is set even further back. They have multiple sycamores, elder and leylandi so im confident it wouldn't cause them an issue.
What are your thoughts on a sweet chestnut tree?

[Aethelthryth]

I think you should be fine with either an oak or a sweet chestnut in the corner and would plant whichever seems to do best in your area. Difficult choice: a sweet chestnut would have those lovely pink flowers in the spring; but there is something very special about an oak. Either way, it is lovely to plant something which could still be there in a couple of hundred years' time.

[florentina1]

For really good advice I would look at Barcham Trees. Their website is so informative and they are more than happy if you email or phone questions to them. They helped me disuade DH from planting tall trees in pots.

I wanted tall spindley trees for my small garden and their advice was invaluable. I only bought 2 of my trees from them but used there recommendation for 8 others.

[Threewheeler1]

What about a Garrya? They're evergreen and gorgeous with their silk tassels and soft green leaves. Probably comparable growth rate to an oak.
We had one in our old house and it was lovely to look at all year round with the added bonus of blocking out the neighbours.

[Hoopaloop]

Quercus robur 'Koster'.

Thank me later.

[TwoGinScentedTears]

The acorn drop off an oak would put me off. But if you've got the place and a space to plant an oak, it's hard not to!