Small Trees for Four-Season Interest:
I am not a professional landscaper.
However, I have landscape various houses that we owned over the years and also helped some of my friends with their landscaping. Makes me a professional, right? :)
Now I'm at it again:
I have a small front yard that I'm landscaping for my neighbourhood and I have to get some small trees, because of the power line we have going from the street to our house.
My dilemma:
This is my front yard, which I want it to be low maintenance, have four season interest, be calming and deal with power lines.
Tree Choices were either:
Small trees, Dwarf, Bonsai and Weeping.
So, I went to the local "tree nursery" and they had a "weeping pine". I have never heard of that. They grow about 15 feet, straight up and then the leader bends and continues to grow.
Shrubs that can be trained into small trees (Standard):
I have done this with "Japanese dapple willow, Lilacs, Pee-wee Hydrangeas, Forsythia and Boxwood".
It takes time, but it's inexpensive and exciting to sculpt and watch your little tree grow.
Now I am looking for a dwarf blue spruce to buy.
Tree Shapes:
Clump:
A tree growing with several closely growing trunks. Birches are often sold in clumps.
Vase-shaped:
A tree with upswept branches, narrow near the base than at the top, such as Elm trees.
Oval:
A tree with branches that form an oval silhouette.
Columnar:
A tall, narrow form tree.
Pyramidal:
A cone-shaped tree, such as spruces.
Conical:
Cone-shaped, but with a narrower profile than a pyramidal tree.
Weeping:
A tree with branches that droop toward the ground, such as a weeping willow.
Small Flowering Trees
Name: |
Flower Colour |
|---|---|
| Amelanchier spp.: (Serviceberries) | White |
| Cornus mas: (cornelian cherry) | Yellow |
| Cercis canadensis: (Easter Redbud) | Pink |
| Cercis chinensis: (Chinese Redbud | Magenta |
| Magnolia Stellata: (star magnolia | White to pale pink |
| Magnolia soulangiana: (sauce magnolia) | White to Wine |
| Cornus florida: (flowering dogwood) | White and Pink |
| Malus spp.: (crab apples) | White, Pink and Red |
| Cornus Kousa: (kousa dogwood) | White |
| Styrax japonicus: (Japanese showbell) | White |
| Syringa reticulata: (Japanese tree lilac) | White |
| Lagerstroemia indica: (crape myrtle) | White, Pink and Lavender |
| Stewartia pseudocamellia: (Japanese stewartia) | White |
Small Trees
Name: |
Description |
Culture |
|---|---|---|
| Acer griseum: (Paperbark Maple) Height: 25-30 feet |
Turns dark orange in fall. | Full sun to partial shade. Zones: 5-8 |
| Acer palamatum (Japanese Maple) Height: 20-25 feet |
Foliage turn scarlet in fall. | Full sun to partial shade. Zones: 5 or 6-9 |
| Amelanchier laevis (serviceberry) Height: 15-25 feet |
Yellow to red fall colour | Full to partial shade. Zones: 5-7 |
| Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud) Height: 20-30 feet |
Full sun to partial shade Zones: 5-9 |
|
| Cornus Florida (Flowering Dogwood) Height: 20-30 feet |
Red fall colour and fruits | Full sun. Zones: 5-8 |
| Lagerstroemia indica (Crape Myrtle) Height: 20-25 feet |
Full sun. Zones: 7-10 |
|
| Magnolia stellata (Star Magnolia) Height: 15-20 feet |
Dark Greens leaves and fragrant. | Full Sun. Zones: 4-8 |
| Malus spp. (crab apple) Height: 15-25 feet |
Showy yellow or red fruits | Full Sun. Zones: 3-9 |
| Syrinca reticulata (Japanese tree lilac) Height: 25-30 feet |
Fragrant white flowers | Full Sun to partial shade. Zones: 3-9 |