Best trees for a small garden?

[Tansie]

Garden is 12 x 10m, so not tiny!

I am thinking betula (silver birch) or acer. They need to have an upright habit as the space they're going in is a bit tight. Am not necessarily looking for flowers, but nice bark would be good!

Clay soil, Hampshire. I need 2 trees.

Any suggestions good!

Acers are gorgeous. Is it sheltered? They don't like wind.

Sorbus Joseph Rock is lovely in small gardens - brilliant all year round interest as the leaves change colour.

Or fruit trees? Apple trees can be lovely. Pale, scented blossom, dappled shade for summer and then you get to eat and cook the fruit. The wood makes sweet smelling logs if you have a fire, the twigs are great on a BBQ for smoked applewood flavoured food.

Acers bought and installed!

Looked at betula but the reality is, once they're more than your thumb thick, they're £200 each! And it takes that much age to get the white bark!

Please be careful where you have planted your trees. NOT near a house wall as can cause subsidence to foundations, and NOT near neighbour's sides. Best in the middle of the garden. Common Acers are Maple trees and very big and wide and not really suitable for a normal garden. The best trees for gardens are apple trees which are small with a dense canopy for sitting in the shade, and prunable. Sorbus get to 35 feet high.