Compact Spaces Pose No Barrier to Tree Planting - Explore Ideal Arboreal Options for Petite Gardens
In the world of gardening, trees are often relegated to the background, overshadowed by exuberant plantings. However, trees are far more than a frame for plants; they deserve to take centre stage, especially in small gardens.
Enter the concept of 'halo felling', a woodland management policy that allows a broadleaf tree's beauty to shine by clearing shrubs and trees around a single tree, creating a halo of light. This technique can be applied to small gardens, enabling trees to thrive and transform a space into a secret garden.
When selecting trees for small gardens, it's essential to choose those with a delicate, filtered canopy that allows light to pass through, supporting the growth of perennials beneath. Smaller deciduous or semi-deciduous trees with fine or narrow foliage are ideal for this purpose.
Recommended tree types for such gardens include the American Dogwood (Cornus florida), Willow Oak (Quercus phellos), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), London Plane Tree (Platanus x acerifolia), Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis), and Amelanchier, crab apple (Malus), Koelreuteria, hawthorn (Crataegus), and birch. These trees create dappled shade rather than dense shade, which is ideal for underplanting with shade-tolerant perennials.
Perennials suitable for planting beneath these trees include Hostas, Ferns, and Pachysandra. Hostas thrive in deep shade with a preference for gentle morning sun, while ferns are well adapted to dappled or filtered light. Pachysandra is an evergreen ground cover ideal for heavy shade, offering year-round green coverage beneath tree canopies.
Compared to the price of a bespoke oak pergola or a retaining brick wall, planting a mature tree is a cost-effective choice. Trees like mulberries make an interesting architectural feature in a small garden, thanks to their spreading, gnarled form. Hawthorn, or cratageus, are tough trees that are great for wildlife and can be grown as part of a hedge.
In a temporary, manufactured setting like a show garden, trees give a sense of permanence. Fig trees, such as 'Brown Turkey' or 'Brunswick', are suitable for small gardens and courtyards, as they provide dense shade and can grow in containers.
Trees can also be trained as espaliers against a fence or to screen a space - fruit trees are often grown this way. Hornbeam and lime trees are commonly trained as pleached or stilted trees and can be bought ready trained.
Moreover, trees can be pruned into low cloud-like forms or twisted together to form an abstract shape or tunnel in small gardens. Crab apple Malus 'Evereste' can be trained as a pleached tree in small gardens.
In summary, selecting small to medium-sized deciduous trees with fine or narrow leaves—such as dogwood, willow oak, or sugar maple—provides a delicate, dappled canopy that filters light gently. This supports shade-tolerant perennials like hostas and ferns beneath, creating a layered, garden-friendly environment in small spaces. The cost of planting a mature tree in a well-considered position is a worthwhile investment.
- Incorporating halo felling in small gardens allows trees, such as the American Dogwood, London Plane Tree, or Amelanchier, to showcase their beauty through the clearing of surrounding vegetation, creating a tranquil, secret garden atmosphere.
- Pachysandra, Hostas, and Ferns are suitable for underplanting beneath small to medium-sized deciduous trees, as they thrive in the dappled shade provided by their delicate canopies, adding a layer of foliage to small garden spaces.
- Compared to expensive landscape features like bespoke pergolas, planting mature trees in well-considered positions can be a cost-effective choice, providing both aesthetic and wildlife value, such as using mulberries, hawthorn, or even fig trees in containers for small gardens.
