Silver birch trees, plant now? And lavendar along path. Quick impact fixes for front garden of new house.

[Briony32]

We have just moved house and I want to do as much as possible, as quickly as possible, to improve the kerb appeal of the house.
I would like to plant 2 silver birch trees in one hole in the front garden, very close to the boundary with the pavement and the path to add height and interest.
Can you tell me when I should plant these ideally? Would I be mad to try and buy and plant some at this time of the year? We bought a lovely silver birch for our old house (sob!) earlier this year from Aldi at Easter I think and it was just starting to get bigger.

We would also like to plant several lavendar plants alongside the front path to provide scent and colour. When is the best time to do this?

Also, I'd be grateful of any other ideas for the front garden please. We have to do it fairly cheaply, but with maximum impact.

Thankyou!

No answers as similar novice - but keen to see any replies ! I have just planted about 30 lavender hidcote plants all along our front path - but they dont look very well ? Any plant doctors out there ? I also need a tree to hide ugly house ... Or at least detract . What is the best tree to plant near to houses ? It needs to live happily near a laurel hedge . DH is worried about tree roots near to house !

October is the PERFECT time to plant stuff as the soil is still warm and there is enough sunlight and plenty of water
make sure you stake the trees well as winter wind rock can be an issue

Thanks IAmaDonkey. Wow, so I should go to the garden centre and pick up some lavendar now then. I sort of presumed that because they are not on offer in shops that it is not a good idea.
Talkinpeace We are a bit worried about tree roots too. But we think that maybe by planting 2 trees in one hole, they will stay smaller for longer. Maybe someone else has some better advice though...

I actually got the lavender from ebay ftom a nursery in Norfolk . They were only £30 for all the plants !

Planting two trees in one hole isn't a great idea. Rather than trying to keep a large tree small, how about planting a tree that doesn't grow so big?

Amelanchier lamarckii
Sorbus aucuparia
Malus 'Red Sentinal'
Acer Palmatum
Acacia pravissima
Prunus 'The Bride'

These are all beautiful small trees.

Thanks Rhubarb - the acer looks particularly lovely x

You don't need two trees .....

Why don't you just plant a multi-stem silver birch. I love them and have planted them at each of the last three houses I have owned.
There are several types of birch but a common and nice one is This One it has a lovely white trunk.
If you get a birch don't let it get too tall and lanky. I get my tree surgeon to take the top few feet off them when they get to 15-20 feet'ish.

I like birch because they are light trees that move in the wind.

Planting anything now is a perfect time! Any trees are best planted when dormant and ensure that the hike is double the width of the pot. Also be careful not to plant the tree too close to the house as tree roots do spread. From what I remember the root system is the mirror image of the tree underground. Rowan trees are lovely as well as tamarisks, stag horn (Rhus typhiana). Get planting now so then the plants can settle over the winter and they'll perform better!

Now's a good enough time to plant treees.

But unless you live in quite a sheltered area, I would leave the lavender til Spring. Another harsh winter could easily see it off.

IamaDonkey lavender likes to be well-drained and in as much sun as possible. What's it like where you have planted it?