Suggestions for new tree/trees

Hi all,

We have some new houses being built in a lovely open area near our house (groan)

It's only two small 1 bed houses but from upstairs in their houses they will be able to see into our garden, taking away our privacy.

We have a hedge along the side of the garden (and two neighbours between the new houses and us) but we would like to plant a couple of trees to give us our privacy again.

I would like them to have minimal spread (I don't really want to lose garden space) but would like something which would get to 10 to 15 feet.

Obviously the prettier the better! I had thought of Sorbus Cashmiriana but it grows to 30 ft!

Ideally a quick grower would be good too!

And tips, help, advice really appreciated on this one!

 

Hello VictoriaPlum

I sympathise. Our house is crammed in the middle of a terrace and we are overlooked by some rather ugly flats at the bottom of the garden. It would have been tempting to grow a forest on all sides, but then we would have had no light and no garden.

In the end, I decided that tall shrubs would be best in such small space. I have Viburnum fragrans serving as a small tree - it is now about twelve feet high and won't grow much bigger. It has a fairly upright habit, so it doesn't throw too much shade, although it has bushed out a bit now it has matured. Even its best friend couldn't claim it is particularly remarkable in the summer, although the dense leaves do provide quite a bit of privacy and are a good backdrop to other things. It does, however, bloom for an incredibly long time through the autumn and winter on bare wood, after it has lost its leaves. It has little clusters of pinkish white flowers which smell wonderful - usually the first I know that it has begun to flower is when a delicious scent starts to waft into the house. You often see a plant called 'Viburnum botnantense 'Dawn'' in garden centres, which is rather similar to fragrans. Its flowers are a deeper pink.

 

Thank you Clare. It looks lovely but I'm afraid it is trees we are after. We need some height in the garden, and get no shade until about 2pm, so it would be welcomed on that side of the garden.

I don't want to lose ground space.

 

I live in the country and a few years ago the next door property was up for sale. Bungalow with 2.75 acres, about 2 acres of which were 20ft high thorn trees. My first concern was that it may be bought by a developer to build a "Close" on it (as has happened about 200 metres up the road). The second concern was that a buyer might build a very large house blocking the light to my windows. The thorn trees put off most enquirers, but one was really interested and I had a chat with him and his family. I pointed out that it was a very expensive job clearing the thorns. He bought it anyway. It turned out that he was a contractor wanting to replace the Bungalow, make a yard for his equipment (lorries and diggers) and to keep horses.

I was very lucky, he has cleared most (not all) the thorns. the yard is at the extreme end of the property with a road to it (not my side). The paddocks for the horses is at the side and back of my property. Into the bargain I have a very nice family next door.

 

If you don't mind a bit of shade, how about a couple of crab apples? I think they are beautiful and they stay fairly small (my book lists several which grow to between 12 and 15 feet).

Or I suppose you could expand your range of produce and grow some small edible apples.

 

I do like the weeping crab apple trees, they look lovely.

I guess it is a bit like shopping when you know exactly what you are looking for, and can therefor never find it!!

I would like the tree to be quite slender at the bottom, but provide some coverage at the top to give some privacy. I suppose shrubs could be an option, but only if they are trunk forming - I need to plant it next to a hedge so I don't want anything that will stop me trimming the hedge back.