What is wrong with this tree?

[nikki1978]

We moved in 2 years ago and this tree (I'm not sure of the type but in late spring there are dark and light pink blossom like flowers on it amongst the leaves). The trunk is about 2-3 ft high and it seems to have been that way since we moved here and it is still only about 3-4 inches in circumference. The branches are growing more but it looks more like a bush. It us actually planted on the grass verge of the road. The last owner put it there (no idea if you are allowed to do that or not).

Here is a picture. Is it likely to grow upwards over time? I was hoping for a lovely tree outside my house one day. And to be honest the low branches are annoying to passers by.

Pink blossom sounds like a cherry tree of some sort. Trees don't grow all that quickly the slower they grow the stronger they'll be in theory.

Any particularly low or intrusive branches could be lopped off of you ask the council to come and take a look maybe.

Oh ok I just wondered if it was broken or something . Can you tell I don't know much about gardening?

How long do they take to grow to a good height like 10 Feet?

Its habit looks more like hawthorn to me. Is that a recent picture, so are leaves coming out already?

And it looks a bit incongruous there.

Does look a bit odd. If as Ferguson says it's a hawthorn (could be the double pink one) you could remove the lower branches so it grows into more of a tree shape. Remove the turf from around the trunk - it's competing for nutrients - leave at least a 12''/30cm circle clear and give the poor thing a good feed. Maxicrop seaweed feed is good.

In a few weeks it should flower, and reveal whether or not it is hawthorn (also called May, because that's when they flower!)

I've looked up hawthorn and it definitely isn't that. I will post a photo back here when it flowers. I'm not sure if I am allowed to dig up the turf there. I suppose they will never know :)

I would also have said hawthorn. It normally makes more sense as a bushy hedging plant than as a stand-alone tree. Cruel though it is, I would replace it with something that gives a bit more year-round interest.

Here it is starting to flower. Hawthorn then? Sorry taken at night, hope you can make it out.

Is it evergreen? Looks a bit like escallonia. Post another photo when the flowers are fully out.

It's not hawthorne! Not sure what it is though, sorry.

Will do aircooled :)

Sorry no it's not evergreen - it drops it leaves in the autumn when the other trees do which is why I assumed it was a tree. Just an odd stunted one

Here. It looks like the flowers have a dark pink outside and pale pink inside. Gardener said it is a tree but not sure what.

Will add another pic when more blossoms open :)

The leaves look like a bit like an escallonia but the flowers look a bit like a crab apple < confused > . It's very pretty though

There might be nothing wrong with it BTW, it' might be on a dwarfing root stock or just be a shrub and not a tree

Do what air cooled said to look after it . Nothing will thrive competeing with that grass

Looks like some kind of Malus/apple but 'ornamental' rather than fruiting. Or could be crab apple as Stacey says. Crab apples make delicious jelly.

Very pretty - give it some tlc!

Does yours look like these ?

These are crab apples

I've come to the rescue! Is it not some sort of ornamental cherry??

Hmm yes it does look like that crab apple pic but I have never seen apples on it.

Does ornamental mean it will stay teeny weeny and be a right pain in the bum for parking cars etc?

Crab apples are small , not like eating apples . Maybe the size of a £2 coin

You only get them if the flowers don't get destroyed by bad weather ( heavy wind, rain , hail ) and there's another Apple tree nearby for cross pollination by insects .

The tree could get several meters high, it depends on the rootstock

Who cuts the grass - the Council? Has the bark been damaged by a strimmer? - that would stunt the tree. Remove some turf around the trunk asap

Looking at that, it's never going to be the right shape for the situation.

Could you possibly take it up carefully and move it to your garden?

Poor tree is just going to get destroyed if it's left there.

Yes it will be a pain in the bum.

What a shame it could be such a pretty tree. I'm not sure what to do with it as I think it would have to be returfed. I might call the council and ask. Here are a couple of pics I just took.

Yes the council strim the verges