Ultra quick growing tree needed

Hi all (first post so be gentle please....!).

I live on a new build estate and therefore have a garden the size of my left foot! (about 20' x 20').

I already have a silver birch in the garden and am very happy with it but would now like to add some sort of conifer in one of the corners to add some shade and also offer some visual protection.

Do the panel know of any one conifer (yes I love them!) that I can add? I am happy to cut off lower branches (say under a 6' level) to allow it to grow into more of a 'tree' shape.

And can anyone recommend one for a more clay type soil.

Finally I would ideally like one that is already at least 8-10'. (and either mail order or around the Newark OnTrent area).

Many thanks for reading and replying.

Alex

 

Hi, Alex,

I'm really afraid if you put another tall growing tree along with your silver birch, it will sooner or later dominate the whole place, especially in the case of conifers and everything will remain in shade so much that it will be uncomfortably dark in the house even if you plant your conifer in the farthest corner... Still, if you want a fast growing one as a specimen tree, I'd plant a cedar, deodaras usually fast growers if the location is ideal, although it'll take several years until you can prune the lowest branches - if you ever have the heart to do so, that is. I'd recommend the varieties with a different, narrowish - and perhaps a bit shorter - habit, e.g. Paktia, Eisregen or even Polarwinter or Karl Fuchs.

Or you can try the white pine, Pinus strobus, but it'll become really huge in time. If you keep it more dense and compact, you can half the candles every spring, and so you can slow down its growth a bit. Eventually, it will grow to a considerable height.

Another option is to grow a variegated Ilex, it'll become a compact little evergreen tree, or if you stick to conifers, why don't you try a tropical looking Pinus patula or Pinus palustris? They'd look far more informal than the strictly conical continental pines.

Or, if you don't mind a narrow-growing one, there's Picea omorika, the Serbian spruce, it wouldn't take up that much space either, but, of course, it is less effective for an evergreen screen.

 

Just remembered: Tsuga or Pseudotsuga are also an option, P. menziesii 'Glauca Pendula' would fit a bit more and Tsugas have similar habit than the deodaras, and they prefer half-shade.

 

I'm kind of thinking that a tree may not be a good idea in such a small garden.
Most smaller growing conifers are very slow, the fast growing ones will very quickly get too big for a 20ft garden and become a real problem.

Alex, you dont say where you are, but if its not too cold in your area in winter you could try something like Fremontadendron or perhaps Cytisus battandieri (pine apple broom), both are fast growing shrubs that will take some pruning if you're careful.
Or you could try Lavatera, another fast growing shrub that flowers like crazy.

 

You've only 20' x 20'.

Put up a Pergola grow climbers and sit under it. The silver birch will provide light shade.

When you plant a tree in a small garden , think of its effect on you neighbours - it could block their sunlight, take moisture away from their garden, particularly if its a conifer. Any branches over their garden they can chop off which will spoil its look