Small garden? Check out the trees you could consider planting
Sometimes it is thought that a small garden excludes the possibility of sitting in the comfortable shade of a tree, but there are different types of plants which, although not shrubs, do not reach dimensions which will be cumbersome - neither in their height or width.
There are varieties often chosen for the beauty of their flowers or leaves; others give us fruit; and others that make birds and wild animals happy to frequent. Below, we show some of these plants which can be considered as additions in the case of small gardens and larger terraces.
Japanese maple
Acer palmatum is the name for the family of this plant that has a number of different varieties. They are very beautiful due to the shape of their leaves and always proving warm and fascinating shades. They should be grown in sheltered places, where they are not in direct sunlight, especially in the hottest part of the day, and can also be kept in very large pots.
Amelanchier (shadbush)
The delicate and elegant white flowers of the Amelachier (aka shadbush) make a lovely addition to any green space. It blooms in early spring, while its leaves turn golden in autumn. It loves sunny or partially shaded positions, and can reach a maximum height of 6 meters, even if it often remains smaller in size.
Judas tree
Cercis Siliquastrum is the tree that, together with the cherry trees, we always see exploding into a splendour of flowers between the end of March and the first half of April: it is one of the symbols of spring and has the extraordinary characteristic of being covered with flowers even on the trunk and the larger branches, looking like they have sprouted from the bark. In the Cercis family there are also similar trees, often with dimensions of around 3 meters, and which have various characteristics such as bronze or purple foliage!
Peach
Many fruit trees do not reach a large size and this is especially true for peach trees. They can also be pruned to give them a more managable shape and size. They look great when covered in their flowers at the end of winter and then they provide some really delicious fruit a few months later. They are also very resistant plants, suitable for more harsh climates - but they still prefer sunny positions sheltered from strong winds.
Rowan (Mountain-Ash)
If you would like to encourage the presence of birds and wildlife in the garden, then you might consider having a tree like the Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) - aka Mountain-Ash - which has beautiful pinnate leaves, produces lovely flowers in the spring and is filled with beautiful clusters of red berries in the fall. Also, of this there are several species to be explored, some of which have a smaller maximum size than others (such as "Rosiness"). They are very hardy plants that are worth considering.
