Trees for small garden

[BarkingUpTheWrongRoseBush]

Starting from scratch. I’d like to plant something tha5 won’t cast too much shade in a small back garden but will confuse the view of next door.

Deciduous is fine. Blossom a bonus but I’ve room for 2 or 3 small trees I reckon so could add blossom their instead….

The key is not too much shade….

It’s south facing clay soil.

Amelanchier? They stay pretty small and have lovely blossom as well as summer berries!

I have a sorbus vilmorinii doing well on south-facing clay - 3-4 seasons of interest depending on whether the birds pinch the berries.

There are eating apple varieties that can stay small..

Agree with Amelanchier (we have a Robin Hill)

Also ornamental cherry, apple or pear trees.
Slightly denser leaves than Amelanchier but not much.

Silver birch is another option.

How tall do you need it to get?

Ornamental Cherry trees don't like clay soil, crab apples are much better. You will have blossom, and if you choose wise.y, crab app,ds through the winter.

I second whatisthisinhere - try a Malus - as in crab apple malus. Try red sentinel for an upright small one, or Everest for a slightly bigger one.

I've got a gorgeous crab apple on our clay soil.
A sorbus which is ok, not great.
A silver birch but it was getting too big; it's been topped and looks nice but I'm not sure how it will develop now.

We did have an amalanchier but it died - outcompeted by dogwoods while it was young and not enough light I think.

Amelanchier is top of the list at the moment, do like a crab apple though but I thin can probably get one in somewhere else.

It needs to be about 4 to 5 metres high but not throw much shade.

I’d like a Himalayan birch but I’m slightly nervous that it will get too big …also shallow roots. Wondering about putting one in a very big container.

Amelanchier vote here as well.

We also have a small, slow growing crab plus another that's much more open with thinner, spaced out branches so doesn't cast much shade.

We also have a self fertilising damson on a small root stock, which is about 2-3m tall and produces enough fruits for about 4 jars of jam

It's a bit shadier but that's because we let it grow unchecked. It could easily be thinned about a bit - and probably need to be this year.

I've been thinking about this too @BarkingUpTheWrongRoseBush and there is another thread you might find useful, with some pictures. Trees in small gardens www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/4246171-trees-in-small-gardens

But to cut to the chase I have just ordered an Amerlanchier Robin Hill... Good luck with your choice!