Apple tree - time's up!

Afternoon!

We inherited a small, unhappy apple tree. First year, small fruit formed then fell off. Leaves, yellow and brown-blotched, really very sickly looking. Many branches completely dead and covered in lichen. We reckon it's days are numbered. So...

We think we should get rid of it. But, what to replace it with? Anyone have ideas? We're currently thinking of a tree-type ceonothus - it's a sheltered corner of the garden, don't want anything too dense though as a few flowers currently thrive under the tree, so a tree that would be evergreen, and airy. Not fussed on getting another fruit tree.

Advice greatly appreciated, many thanks.

Effy.

 

Photograph of the proposed site please

And can you put your approx location in your profile pls, so we know where abouts you are

 

Oh yes.. will do Kristen..

I'm in Eastcote, near Ruislip.

 

If you could put that in your Profile then we'll know for next time and not need to ask

Looks to be a nice open spot where your Apple tree has been, so you could put pretty much anything there, and it will take more than one shrub for sure - you could have a little cluster of 3 or 4 choice plants.

If it were me I would put a small tree there - something like a Mountain Ash (nice compound leaves as well as flowers, berries and autumn colour to the leaves ... they come with Yellow, Pink or White berries, in addition to the more common Red ones. Or a cherry (done & gone in a week, in Spring, though - so I prefer them "out front" rather than in the back garden where I think plants that have a longer period of interest are important. But there are other plants in the cherry family - that have nice bark, for example e.g. Prunus serrula - in fact lots of "small garden trees" to choose from.