skip to main content

DIY Gardens Design Dilemma

Help with fruit trees

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Hello *Houzzers*,

I am hoping you can help me, we have a 28m long lawned area at the front/side of our house. When we moved in it was edged all the way along with 12ft high out of control conifers, we had them removed straight away, and been trying to get the grass right ever since. It looks so much better but nothing will grow in there now after 26 years of conifers starving the soil. We plan to work on it once we finish the other projects that require our attention first.

What I cannot envisage is what I should do with it? I have two fruit trees that were gifted to us and been on pots for about three years and I would like to get them into the ground.

If this was yours what would you do with it please? And where would you plant these trees in that scheme? I have a cherry and an apple.

That fence needs to go as well, but it belongs to a dear old lady and the bungalow behind so I think we might have see to it ourselves.

Here's some pics :), thank you in advance

Comments (4)

Monica
Original Author
4 years ago
Ugh pictures won’t upload. And yes puppy dog photobombed me :)
Sonia
4 years ago
I think you could create a mini orchard on your front lawn, but how big your trees will get depends on what rootstock they were grown on. Do they still have their labels on? Basically, standard fruit trees grow to 25 ft tall and as wide, semi dwarf grow to 15 ft and as wide, then dwarf fruit trees usually grow to a max of 10 x 10 feet. I only know this because I recently bought a dwarf Apple tree, as my garden is far too small for a standard fruit tree.

It looks like a spacious area, so you could add more trees, but careful what you choose as some are huge. A nice smaller tree is the Mountain Ash (Sorbus) which has lovely leaves and gorgeous berries in the autumn which the birds love. Laburnum is a small tree with beautiful hanging yellow flowers in late spring. Acers (Japanese Maples) are smaller trees in stunning shades, but they prefer dappled Shade. My favourite tree of all time is the beautiful Himalayan Birch (Betula) which has stunning white bark on the trunk and branches. The multi-stemmed one is particularly attractive. It is a biggie though - 50 ft tall x 25 ft wide. This may not be what you’re thinking, but once established they don’t take much upkeep. Heres some pics
Monica thanked Sonia
Related Discussions
Help with Trees/Shrubs to small garden.
Q
Comments (11)
I wouldn't have put a lawn in. You can see how it goes, but they require a lot of mowing and it sounds like you don't get a lot of sun so it may well end up very mossy and wet most of the time. See how it goes but maybe you need the deck to be sited on the left, so it is in the sun in the middle of the day/evening if possible, so not near the house if it faces east. Evergreen climbers are essential for small gardens with fences. Trachelospermum jasminoides, has lovely scented flowers in the summer and Hydrangea seemannii and Pileostegia Viburnoides are good in shade. I would put in a lot of planting on the shady side of the garden, a good evergreen grass for clay is Carex pendula. I would also plant an Amelanchier or Acer at the far end to screen the neighbours windows and autumn colour. You could look up evergreen ground covers for shade. Good luck!
...See More
Fruit trees
Q
Comments (0)
What is the best way to plant fruit trees
...See More
Tree help
Q
Comments (4)
A better photo would be helpful, all I can see is 1 yellow leaf amongst a bunch of healthy looking ones, leaves do get shed by any deciduous tree - this is what scab looks like: Personally I'd keep it, you can spray it which would help but you're probably not going to eat the fruit anyway unless you're intent on making crabapple jelly? I have an old Bramley apple tree in my garden, it's completely rubbish, covered in canker but it still has blossom, the apples are still edible & it allows me to grow climbing plants up it so it serves a purpose for me. Taking a tree out of a garden really needs thought as it will totally change the space & as you say, shade is really welcome (unless it's a Leylandii tree, in which case it should be torn out & burnt, possibly with celebratory dancing round the fire...)
...See More
Planting scheme help inc small trees
Q
Comments (4)
Hi. Mmmmm.... the examples you posted are specifically pruned to that shape and need to be kept pruned regularly. I call them lollipop trees😊. Most trees don’t usually grow to a set height then stop, unless trimmed they just keep on growing. Containers will need to be big as they need a good amount of root space and will conserve water better. I think you’ll find the containers more expensive than the trees/ shrubs themselves. This site has some good examples of ‘lollipop’ trees: https://www.paramountplants.co.uk/clear-stem-trees.html Not sure if any of them flower. There are lots of plants you could use for a specific planting scheme. A local garden nursery should be able to help with what would be suitable for your area.
...See More
Monica
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you so much Forza :)

Lovely selection here. I had both the Sorbus and the Betula in our old house, like you I absolutely love the bark. I also like the look of the viburnum but I think from memory is poisonous to pets?

I love your idea of a mini orchard and will check the labels on my trees.

Hubby is not sure about mowing around them, could we edge around them maybe? Will have to check what sort of tree our fruity ones are.
Sonia
4 years ago
Yes Laburnum seeds are poisonous if ingested, so maybe best to forget that! You could plant the trees leaving a nice clear circle around them to make mowing easier. You could edge for a nice neat look. These are only suggestions. You may want shrubs alongside your fruit trees or some flowers. Lots of possibilities. :-)
Monica thanked Sonia

Sign Up to Comment

Sponsored

More Discussions

Wall covering in our new home for the kitchen dining lounge.

15

Designing a TV/Feature Wall, non symmetrical wall, one large alcove

17

Opening up integral garage (Lighting/Layout Dilema)

5

Small bathroom to walk in shower help.

31

Detached house to flats conversion project for a cause

1

United Kingdom

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.