Low maintainance trees for smallish garden

[kitkat321]

We've just had our garden landscaped with a patio and astro grass (because it's easier with the dog and baby). It's a new estate so while it looks nice, it's a bit soulless at the moment although I have planted some viola (and some heather that died!!).

We have a soil border around the grass plus a flowerbed and would love to plant some smallish trees but I have no idea where to start and no idea what will thrive in our garden - we have decent top soil, access to plenty of horse manure but the soil underneath is very thick and clay like.

I've a bit of a gardening novice as our last home didn't have much of a garden so I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions!

If by low maintenance, you mean you can deal with annual pruning, you could do worse than apple trees. There are various types of different sizes; blossom in spring and fruit in autumn.

Crab apple is even lower maintenance, but you can't eat those straight from the tree.

Yes something that doesn't need a lot of pruning. I'd would really like to grow some fruit, vegs and herbs so an apple tree sounds perfect!

Is it sheltered or windy? Sunny or shady?

I love japanese maples for small gardens, but they can't cope with too much wind and sun.

Magnolia stellata can be very nice in a small garden too.

Amelanchier, laburnum, lilac (more of a shrub but you can get standard ones), silver birch, rowan (I would love a rowan but our soil is too soggy ), hamamelis.....

Can you tell I've been researching trees for my own garden recently

Japanese maples seem quite happy in clay, incidentally. I see lots of lovely ones round here and it's all heavy clay. Such lovely trees. Cherries grow well in clay too. The flowering cherries have been spectacular this year.

I would recommend my winter flowering cherry to anyone.

www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/94024/Prunus-x-subhirtella-Autumnalis/Details?returnurl=%2Fplants%2Fsearch-results%3Fs%3Ddesc(plant_merged)%26query%3Dprunus%26form-mode%3Dfalse%26context%3Db%25253D0%252526hf%25253D10%252526l%25253Den%252526q%25253Dprunus%252526s%25253Ddesc%25252528plant_merged%25252529%252526sl%25253Dplants%26page%3D4%26aliaspath%3D%252fplants%252fsearch-results

Flagpole cherry (Prunus Amanagawa) would be fine in clay and is narrow growing. Agree apples generally good for clay as is lilac.

I have a whitebeam (same family as Rowan) which is doing ok in my heavy clay garden. Gets relatively big though!

Roses will love your soil too. Perhaps some climbing roses on an obelisk/arch?