Trees or tall shrubs?

[thankyougoodbye]

I would love some advice if possible- my garden is long and north easterly facing. I would like to plant some trees down one side of fencing (10m).

I have been looking online and have found a local supplier who have lovely magnolia grandiflora and laburnum watereri - could I plant a laburrnum then 4 magnolia spaced over the 10m? Does this sound crazy?

If it does could you lovely people recommend some suitable alternatives?

Thanks so much in advance I hope someone answers

With both these trees would have all you interest in the spring. Also Laburnum seeds are poisonous, so be wary if you have little children.

How about a Holly, there are some beautiful varieties, evergreen and not all prickly. Rowen are pretty trees, blossom in spring and lovely berries in autumn. Again several varieties.

Oh fab thank you I will investigate those

10m is not a long space. Magnolia grandiflora grows into a large tree (large for magnolia that is) - it's ultimate spread is more than 8m.

I'm assuming you're not trying to screen, you're trying to break up the fence with something attractive?

If you like Magnolia, you could look at one of the smaller ones:
www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration/plants-we-love/magnolias-for-small-gardens

Alternatively, look at Camellia

Then you'd want to have something to provide interest for the rest of the year. Summer you could get round by herbaceous plants in the gaps between trees, but check which direction the border faces as to how much shade your plants need to tolerate. For autumn you're looking at berries and leaf colour, Sorbus (rowan) are good for both, and the ones which have pink or white berries are less likely to be stripped by birds. In winter, bark comes into its own - think about a snake-bark maple (green and white streaks), or Prunus serrula ( a flowering cherry with polished mahogany trunk), or smaller, Cornus "Midwinter Fire".

Legally this would be defined as a hedge, especially because the magnolia is evergreen. If your neighbour objects they will have grounds to object to the council and you’ll be ordered to remove the trees. If it’s for screening purposes I’d recommend clumping bamboo or hornbeam, both of which cannot legally be considered to be a hedge and thus nobody can force you to remove them.

To be covered by the Act, the hedge has to be "evergreen or mostly evergreen". 4 laburnums and an evergreen magnolia wouldn't be "mostly evergreen".