Planting trees is great for the environment. Trees provide food, shelter and nesting sites for local wildlife, protect against flooding and absorb harmful pollutants out of atmosphere. As if those aren’t good enough reasons for planting trees in the garden, the right tree creates shade and provides ornamental value.
How to Choose the Right Tree for Your Garden
A well-chosen tree accentuates garden design, but different tree varieties have different benefits. For example, an evergreen provides year-round interest, and a deciduous tree can become a real focal point of astounding autumn colour.
When choosing the best trees for the garden, consider the following:
The size of the space and the ultimate height and spread of the tree. Planting a large tree in a small garden with limited space probably isn’t a great idea, as you don’t want it to encroach on your neighbour’s property.
The purpose of the tree. Do you want to create dappled shade or grow fruit, or is the tree simply for decoration?
The season of interest. Are you looking for spring flowers, summer foliage, autumn colour or winter interest?
Plant With Sun and Soil in Mind
As with other plants, choosing the best trees for the garden usually begins with how much sun the space receives. Direct sunlight and summer heat can be too much for some tree varieties, while others thrive in full sun. Choose a tree that suits the setting well to give it the best chance of thriving. For example, a sun-loving tree is ideal for a south-facing garden.
The soil type is equally important. A tree that flourishes in light, well-draining soil won’t grow well in heavy soil prone to water logging. Also, consider the other plants taking nutrients from the soil – you don’t want to end up with two trees competing for the same nourishment and neither growing to their full potential as a result.
Trees Planted Close to Buildings
Most trees won’t cause any issues near houses. However, planting trees too close to buildings can cause structural damage. Bear in mind that a tree’s roots spread up to three times the tree’s height. Spreading roots can cause blocked drains or cracked paving on patios and driveways. A tree canopy can also damage guttering and roof tiles, especially in inclement weather.
The highest risk of damage to structures comes with heavy clay soils. Planting trees in sand or loam soil types minimises the risk of subsidence and subsequent damage. Additionally, larger trees are more likely to cause issues than smaller trees planted in the same spot.
Positioning Trees Beside Other Plants
Take careful consideration when planting a tree next to other garden plants. As well as the issue around sharing soil nutrients outlined above, trees, hedges and shrubs can hinder each other’s growth. The taller plant prevents sunlight from getting to the shorter one, so ensure trees, hedges and large shrubs get spaced well enough to allow them all to soak up the sun.
Bear in mind that you’ll want to be able to reach hedges and shrubs for routine or essential pruning, so avoid planting too close together and blocking access.
Recommended Trees for UK Gardens
Some of the best trees for growing in UK gardens are those native to the country. After all, these trees are acclimated to the weather and are hardy enough to survive harsh winters. However, some non-native trees thrive in British gardens, though they may need additional insulation to protect against root damage when the weather turns frosty.
Evergreen Trees
Evergreen trees provide year-round greenery as well as add height and structure to garden design. They are invaluable for local wildlife, providing food and shelter during the coldest parts of the year.
Holly (Ilex)
Synonymous with Christmas, holly actually provides interest throughout the year. Its spiny, glossy leaves remain in place all year round and are complemented by small white, purple or yellow flowers in spring. However, holly is most famous for its bright red berries. These appear on female holly trees in autumn and stay in place throughout winter.
Ilex are relatively easy trees to grow and flourish in full sun, partial shade and even full shade. They don’t need a sheltered spot and grow well in most soil types.
Olive Tree
Despite being native to the Mediterranean, olive trees are relatively easy to grow in the UK, coping well with harsh winter temperatures. Their shimmering foliage makes them an excellent addition to any style of garden, and their compact size means they can be successfully grown in pots for the patio. However, it’s unusual to find edible olives on a UK-grown olive tree as the climate isn’t quite warm enough.
A sheltered sunny spot is perfect for this evergreen tree. Pot-grown trees need to be watered more often than those grown in the ground and may need some additional insulation to protect against frost damage in winter.
Trees for Autumn Colour
One of the best things about the colder weather coming in towards the end of the year is the autumnal colouring in the trees. Fiery shades of red, orange, gold, yellow and purple are a sight to behold.
Japanese Maple (Acer)
Japanese maples are one of the best trees for autumn interest due to their vibrant foliage. There are many different varieties of acer trees available, each with its own unique colouring. One thing they all have in common is that they produce a spectacular autumn show.
Acers are easy to grow and don’t take up a huge amount of space in the garden. Their compact size makes them ideal for planting in the front garden. Japanese maples grow best in a sheltered spot, and the level of sunlight they prefer depends on the leaf colour. Red and purple trees need full sun for their rich hues to fully develop, while varieties with variegated foliage prefer partial shade, and green-leaved species need dappled shade to help prevent leaf scorch.
Ornamental Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Reaching up to 5m tall in around 20 years, pyrus calleryana is a medium size tree with a slender, conical shape that makes it perfect for small gardens. Glossy green leaves appear in spring and are complemented by masses of single white flowers in April and May. However, this ornamental tree really comes into its own in autumn, when the dark green leaves start to turn. Red, scarlet and purple foliage provides dramatic autumn colour.
These deciduous trees are easy to care for and thrive in most well-draining soil types. They are happy in full sun or partial shade and are fully hardy in the UK.
Trees for Winter Interest
The best tree for adding interest to your outdoor space doesn’t necessarily have to be evergreen. Some deciduous varieties also bring something to the winter months, even when not much grows and there is little colour to be found.
Silver Birch (Betula pendula)
Famed for its silvery-white bark, the silver birch is a deciduous medium-sized tree that produces catkins in spring and delightful autumn foliage. This hardy tree is a fast-grower and reaches up to 25m tall, making it most well-suited to larger gardens. Also known as common birch, this tree has a graceful habit, and a mature tree will take on a weeping shape. As well as the silver hue, peeling bark is a feature that provides interest through winter.
Betula pendula is a vigorous tree that grows well in most conditions. It tolerates pollution, making it perfect for urban gardens, and thrives in full sun or partial shade.
Paper Bark Maple (Acer griseum)
Another tree valued for its interesting bark, paperbark maple is a small tree with deciduous foliage and an attractive spreading habit. Yellow flowers blossom in spring, among green leaves that turn orange and red in autumn. When the leaves drop, they expose the chestnut-red bark underneath in its full glory. The bark peels like tissue paper, revealing fresh, smooth orange bark inside.
Paper bark maples prefer moist, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. They do best in a sheltered spot out of strong winds and tolerate cold winter temperatures.
Trees with Attractive Fruits
Fruit trees are ideal for the garden. They are usually deciduous trees that don’t grow to be huge in stature. Many trees suitable for growing in the garden produce edible fruits, fresher and often juicier than those found in the supermarket.
Victoria Plum (Prunus Domestica)
Eventually reaching 3-5m tall, Victoria plum trees are an excellent choice for planting in the garden. This deciduous tree bursts into life in spring, with white blooms appearing in April and May. These delicate white flowers are followed by sumptuous red-purple fruits ripening from August. The juicy plums can be picked and eaten straight from the tree or used to make jams or desserts. Victoria plum flourishes in direct sun and is fully hardy in the UK.
Crab Apple (Malus Butterball)
Arguably the most common fruit tree grown in UK gardens, crab apple trees can reach 4-8m in height. They have a wonderful spreading habit that makes them ideal for medium-large gardens.
Clusters of pink-tinged white flowers bloom alongside the grey-green leaves from late spring to early summer. Yellow apples flushed with red follow and are ready to eat from autumn. The fruits can be harvested to make jams and preserves.
Plant a crab apple tree in a sheltered spot, where it can soak up the sun. Malus tolerates most well-draining soil types and needs to be watered well during long periods of dry weather.
Summer Colour
Summer colour doesn’t have to be limited to low-growing flowers. Save space and draw the eye upwards by choosing a summer-blooming tree for the garden.
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)
Also known as crepe myrtle, crape myrtle is renowned for the vivid flowers produced in summer and lasting into autumn. This beautiful tree comes in a range of colours allowing you to choose between white, red, purple or pink blooms.
Crape myrtle prefers a sheltered spot in full sun and moist, well-draining soil and is the ideal tree for adding height to flower beds, borders and patio areas.
Japanese Dogwood (Cornus kousa cappuccino)
Flowering from early summer, this Japanese dogwood cultivar is a small tree that suits any garden. The oval green leaves are tinged with bronze and contrast beautifully with the white bracts that surround the delicate green flowers. Ornamental strawberry-like fruits appear in autumn, complementing the red-orange hues of the foliage.
Japanese dogwood is fully hardy and thrives in full sun or partial shade. It grows well in moist, well-draining slightly acidic soil and reaches its full height in 10-20 years.
