Apple tree in front garden?

[Wholelottalove]

We have a patch in front of our house approx 1m x1.5m, currently filled with gravel and one very small, lonely and slightly silly looking pot plant in the middle. I'd like to take this out and replace with something else, possibly a tree. Have always loved the idea of an apple or other fruit tree, but not sure if this is wise. Would the roots go under garage/house? I suspect if it did give us apples they might get nicked as we get quite a few passers by. DH suggested an acer instead, which I love, but it isn't a very sheltered spot. What do you think? Any other suggestions?

A patch that small isn't suitable for an apple tree really. It would be like keeping a Great Dane in a hen coop. You could turn it into a little courtyard garden, however and make it more interesting with a few different-size pots containing shrubs and flowers of varying heights.

How close is this patch to the house and garage? With any tree you have to think about how far the roots will reach, but the advantage of an apple tree is that you can select one that is on a smaller rootstock and won't get so tall or have such massive roots. Or how about a dwarf tree that you could keep in a large pot?

I have never (touch wood) had plants stolen from the front garden, although my neighbour did help himself to a bucket which I've never got back.

::nursing a grievance::

You can get a dwarf apple, ones you can also grow in a pot.
Somebody on here recommended readsnursery.co.uk to me, I bought 2 dwarf apples which are doing well in pots

Ooh, thanks for the suggestions, I'll have a look for dwarf one.