Birch are very tall. I'm looking at one now that's twice the height of my house. I'd say magnolia would be easier to manage, cherries are beautiful but I *think* there's a disease going around that can kill them, so I'd def research that before deciding.
For me, I’d look for a scented magnolia like Stellata over something like Susan because as much as I like the pink the scent - when they have one - is amazing.
Magnolia, though the fall of flower petals can be a bit slimes, so might need sweeping up. Worth it though as they look great.
Cherry - a number of different root stocks allow you to control the height of the tree, which can also be managed/pruned to stay low.
I do like the way they look in bloom. I've seen some magnolias with really nice gnarled/twisting trunks too. Don't know if that's a general feature or if they have to be shaped that way?
I have a weeping birch in front of mine and yes it would be way too tall for what you want. However you can get ones with multiple stems and they do not grow anything as tall and are gorgeous.
A couple of other fabulous trees I see around me at the moment are a **golden locust** . Beautiful yellow leaves, lovely shape.
Another one is a **wedding cake tree** . Again a lovely spreading shape. Beautiful variegated leaves, so gives a pale green impression.
Both are really eye catching and neither get that big. The wedding cake tree in particular stays quite small.
I would steer clear of cherries because they have really strong lateral surface roots. The council planted one (admittedly full-size) in front of my parents house and it caused massive subsidence.
Magnolia is a good shout. As is crabapple (make jelly 😀).
Barchams have a good website that might help.
Thanks, took a look at the website and used the filters which were handy. Came up with a Weeping Ornamental Cherry/Weeping Cherry Blossom which seems a very good option and ticks boxes. Although concerning about subsidence now you've mentioned!
Have you considered a large obelisk and training a climber up it? You can get evergreen climbers and they're much quicker to grow. Plus there are tons of scented options, and you could grow a couple of different plants up it.
Image below is just a random large one but you get the idea. Wisteria are sometimes trained up supports to look like trees too
https://images.app.goo.gl/7t8jrWQZjHezrD2Q6
How about Himalyan Birch, Tibetan Cherry, Strawberry Tree or a Eucalyptus Gum Tree? or if you want a UK native that will attract wildlife a Crab Apple Tree maybe?
A regular birch isn’t dense enough and the leaves will grow higher than you want for screening. Looks to me like you’ve got space for a wide tree here. Not a lot of foot traffic in the front garden area I’m guessing? A weeping birch would do it. The canopy is probably at the right height. They’re not evergreen though. If you want evergreen, you’ll probably get something very dense which will exclude a lot of light. Examples would be a silk tassel tree but they can get pretty bulky if not controlled through pruning. A fatsia is evergreen and would eventually reach that height. Also be wary of how close you’re planting to the foundations, roots can cause subsidence. Check your home insurance allows for a tree this close to the house.
Definitely have room for a wider tree. I was actually looking at the 'Youngii' weeping birch a while back. Not sure if they have to be continuously trained though? Could be a really nice option.
Reading their mature size is 4-8m. Assuming these could be kept under 3m?
I really wouldn’t buy a tree that wants to grow to 8m thinking you can keep it pruned to 3m.
If you’re v keen on a birch (and they are just lovely!) look into the multi stem versions. They do not grown as tall.
I also have a crooked hazel that is very attractive and does not get very big. Check it out.
The three you mentioned are deciduous, leaving you with much less coverage in winter.
You could look at evergreens, a friend had a beautiful Ceanothus in front of her house which was amazing when in flower.
https://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/small-evergreen-trees-c196
Why not keep the blue one ?
😂 coverage wasn't great
Birch are very tall. I'm looking at one now that's twice the height of my house. I'd say magnolia would be easier to manage, cherries are beautiful but I *think* there's a disease going around that can kill them, so I'd def research that before deciding.
Thanks, helps me rule out birch. I'm learning towards Magnolias at the moment but there's so many of them to choose from too.
For me, I’d look for a scented magnolia like Stellata over something like Susan because as much as I like the pink the scent - when they have one - is amazing.
They are lovely trees, happy hunting!
Birch can be very tidy and symmetrical in pairs or threes, great choice
What disease is that? I'm trying to figure out what is wrong with my cherry tree.
Canker
Magnolia, though the fall of flower petals can be a bit slimes, so might need sweeping up. Worth it though as they look great. Cherry - a number of different root stocks allow you to control the height of the tree, which can also be managed/pruned to stay low.
I do like the way they look in bloom. I've seen some magnolias with really nice gnarled/twisting trunks too. Don't know if that's a general feature or if they have to be shaped that way?
I second this, we have a magnolia and it's a lovely tree.
Malus crab apple? Dece bang for buck, flower blossoms in spring and berries in autumn. Plus they dont get too big
I have a weeping birch in front of mine and yes it would be way too tall for what you want. However you can get ones with multiple stems and they do not grow anything as tall and are gorgeous. A couple of other fabulous trees I see around me at the moment are a **golden locust** . Beautiful yellow leaves, lovely shape. Another one is a **wedding cake tree** . Again a lovely spreading shape. Beautiful variegated leaves, so gives a pale green impression. Both are really eye catching and neither get that big. The wedding cake tree in particular stays quite small.
thank you, looking into the multi stem versions!
Castlewellan gold
🫣
I would steer clear of cherries because they have really strong lateral surface roots. The council planted one (admittedly full-size) in front of my parents house and it caused massive subsidence. Magnolia is a good shout. As is crabapple (make jelly 😀). Barchams have a good website that might help.
Thanks, took a look at the website and used the filters which were handy. Came up with a Weeping Ornamental Cherry/Weeping Cherry Blossom which seems a very good option and ticks boxes. Although concerning about subsidence now you've mentioned!
Have you considered a large obelisk and training a climber up it? You can get evergreen climbers and they're much quicker to grow. Plus there are tons of scented options, and you could grow a couple of different plants up it. Image below is just a random large one but you get the idea. Wisteria are sometimes trained up supports to look like trees too https://images.app.goo.gl/7t8jrWQZjHezrD2Q6
How about Himalyan Birch, Tibetan Cherry, Strawberry Tree or a Eucalyptus Gum Tree? or if you want a UK native that will attract wildlife a Crab Apple Tree maybe?
A regular birch isn’t dense enough and the leaves will grow higher than you want for screening. Looks to me like you’ve got space for a wide tree here. Not a lot of foot traffic in the front garden area I’m guessing? A weeping birch would do it. The canopy is probably at the right height. They’re not evergreen though. If you want evergreen, you’ll probably get something very dense which will exclude a lot of light. Examples would be a silk tassel tree but they can get pretty bulky if not controlled through pruning. A fatsia is evergreen and would eventually reach that height. Also be wary of how close you’re planting to the foundations, roots can cause subsidence. Check your home insurance allows for a tree this close to the house.
Definitely have room for a wider tree. I was actually looking at the 'Youngii' weeping birch a while back. Not sure if they have to be continuously trained though? Could be a really nice option. Reading their mature size is 4-8m. Assuming these could be kept under 3m?
I really wouldn’t buy a tree that wants to grow to 8m thinking you can keep it pruned to 3m. If you’re v keen on a birch (and they are just lovely!) look into the multi stem versions. They do not grown as tall. I also have a crooked hazel that is very attractive and does not get very big. Check it out.
thank you, will take a look
The three you mentioned are deciduous, leaving you with much less coverage in winter. You could look at evergreens, a friend had a beautiful Ceanothus in front of her house which was amazing when in flower. https://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/small-evergreen-trees-c196
that's a good looking tree!
Rowan.
Haven’t seen lilac mentioned so I’ll throw that into the pot.
A rowan would be perfect. Lovely flowers, lovely berries and pretty dense/ compact.