Need a tree and lawn

[MrsMarigold]

We have a rather odd chap living behind us and he has taken to watching us in the garden. We are in London on a terrace so the garden is quite small but I would like to put it in tree but nothing too dense. Also I've never done any gardening before what should I start with the garden is dire and depressing but I need a project and feel this might lift my spirits. I don't have oodles of cash for my project. The garden has two apple trees and a smallish pear tree and some awful pampus and a laurel bush. Also should I get a hire a rotavator to redo the lawn and dig beds. I'm thinking of getting some manure delivered to enrich the soil

Oh dear: you have been ignored for a long time!

Ornamental grasses can grow tall and provide some screening, and we also have a black bamboo that is big, but beware of too-vigorous bamboos that can invade.

Acers, particularly cut-leaved red acers are lovely, but slow growing, and to buy a mature one would be a fortune.

Amelanchier have good autumn colour, but are pricey as this link shows I'm afraid:

.bluebellnursery.com/catalogue/trees/Amelanchier

If the lawn is in bad condition, it could be re-made, or else give it TLC; Green Thumb, or similar organisations may be able to improve it.

You can probably dig out the pampas and laurel. Yes, rotted manure will improve the soil, or there are various bagged things like 6X, so you need a friendly farmer, or a budget garden centre.

I'll come back sometime, with ideas I have sent to others recently.

Sorry - messed up the link: try again

www.bluebellnursery.com/catalogue/trees/Amelanchier

That's better.