Remove?

Cut it back and it probably won't regenerate (unless it is Thuja)

You could clip it to the current shape & size each year (like a hedge)

Or remove and replace. Big gap there until the new plant get big enough though - that's only a problem if it is hiding an eyesore currently, or blocking the wind (seems unlikely with a single plant though)

 

Only way (that I know of) to quickly fill a "hole" is trellis [or Obelisk] and a climber, dunno if that would work?

 

Not sure, but its a thin canopy compared to a conifer.

Other small trees an option? Mountain Ash / Crab Apple / etc, or are they too "broad" ?

 

I think it would be worth asking approximately how tall a 6/8 or a 10/8 standard would be (that measurement is girth, so different species will be different heights). Could easily be 10-15 feet I think. If so bare rooted in the late Autumn would be an option, the plant would already be "most" of the height you need

http://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/Himalayan-Birch-Betula-utilis-jacquemontii

(Bog standard silver birch cheaper, but those Jacquemontii do look the business!)

Other "small" trees listed here:
http://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/Trees-for-Small-Gardens

(I've bought lots from Ashridge Trees, they have fantastic quality plants. Carriage may be a bit steep if you are only buying a single tree though. They will knock spots off a pot-grown tree from garden centre which will probably only be 6' tall, or so - i.e. several years younger.)

P.S. Just checked, their delivery is £6.50-ish, so not outrageous - given that a decent sized plant is going to be £50 or more

 

Quite! I think its a very unhelpful measurement. At the least I think it would help if tree nurseries published the Min/Max height you are likely to get - I have no idea what that "girth" relates to in terms of tree-size ...

.. so I would phone up and ask. You'd think they would get fed up with the calls and would just publish a list of "approximate sizes". Ho!Hum!

All I can say is that I've been pleasantly surprised how big they were when they arrive. I think I've only "splashed out" on an 8/10 once, and that was very tall, and the 6/8 ones I've bought have seemed pretty tall to me. "pretty tall" is a bit subjective though, I grant you

 

Peckham !!

 

P.P.S. These were 6/8 std's ... to give you an idea of height (if you can guestimate it from surrounding objects?!!)

 

The Head won't developer faster than the Roots can support - so you'll basically find it just sits there doing not-a-lot for the first year or two, whilst the roots get established.

You do need to stake it properly, so need to spend money on a decent stake (long enough to go into the ground far enough not to wobble, and still be tall enough (chest high?) to tie the tree to. Bang that in before you plant it, so that it won't skewer any roots, or use two stakes, one either side and well clear, attached to the tree with a figure-of-eight tying arrangement.