Small but mighty: The best trees for your garden for National Tree Week

Small gardens can be the perfect choice for ornamental and fruit trees but are you unsure which ones will fit your outdoor space? This National Tree Week (23 November – 1 December), discover how these trees can enhance your garden, whether in a border or a container. This awareness week by The Tree Council brings together the conservation sector, volunteers and tree-lovers to mark the start of the annual tree-planting season. From vibrant blossoms to delicious fruit, the team at British Garden Centres has put together this guide on how to select and care for the right trees to fit your garden style

Our most popular trees

Apple: Dwarf rootstock apple trees grow well in small spaces or spots. Varieties such as ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’, ‘Golden Delicious,’ ‘Greensleeves,’ ‘Hereford Russet’ and ‘Red Windsor’ are good choices to produce juicy fruit with a distinctive flavour.

Pear: The ideal choice for a Pear tree in a small space or patio container is the ‘Concorde’ or ‘Conference’ variety. This naturally compact, self-fertile tree consistently produces abundant tasty fruit for you to enjoy in the summer months.

Fig: Figs thrive being restricted to tiny spaces or in a container and produce more fruit due to this. ‘Brown Turkey’ is considered the most prolific fruiter and by far the most often grown in UK gardens.

Bay: Renowned for its fragrance and widely used in topiary, a planted or potted bay tree makes an aromatic and stylish addition to a kitchen garden. With leaves that are great for picking all year round for cooking, a bay tree also adds a feature statement when framing doorways, patios or balconies.

Olive: Bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your outdoor space with an olive tree. Ideal for containers, their neatly shaped, evergreen grey-green foliage looks great in patio pots placed on either side of doorways or lining a pathway.

Japanese maples: Japanese maples are small, deciduous trees, known for their spectacular display of bright red and orange-coloured leaves in autumn. Protect the plant from wind and direct sunlight and keep it well watered in summer and don’t let it dry out. They’re slow growers and stay pretty small, so you don’t have to worry about pruning much.

Dwarf conifers: Conifers are low-maintenance, attractive forms that bring all-year-round colour to gardens. They are extremely versatile, coming in an amazingly diverse range of shades, textures, shapes, and sizes. Cupressus ‘Wilma’ smells great when you brush past it, so it’s perfect for pots by doors and windows. Cypress ‘Baby Blue’ looks cool in pots with its silvery-blue colour.

Magnolia: Can be grown as a large shrub or a small tree. The star magnolia flowers profusely in spring and reaches a maximum height and spread of 3m.

Which tree to choose?

When choosing a small tree, consider its mature size, growth rate, and preferred growing conditions. Olive trees and dwarf Japanese maples are slow-growing options that can thrive in containers for many years. On the other hand, cherry laurel, leylandii, Sorbus, hawthorn, and willow are faster-growing choices that can quickly fill a space.

Proper care is essential for the health and longevity of small trees. Ensure they are planted in well-draining soil and receive adequate sunlight. Regular watering, especially during dry periods, is crucial. Pruning can help maintain the tree’s shape and promote healthy growth.

Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres said: “By planting small trees in your garden, you can create beautiful areas with greenery and enhance your outdoor living space. Whether you’re aiming for a Mediterranean-inspired oasis, a tranquil Japanese garden, or a classic English cottage garden, there’s a small tree to suit your style at your local British Garden Centres store.”