Tree for front garden

 
Hi all, new here.


I've been in my house for 2 years, and was a complete novice, now after
2 years or ripping out, re planting, hard landscaping, am getting quite
good!


Now, the front garden. Pulled out all the rubbish last few weekends, and
will be lawning it all. Proceeding nicely with clay soil and current
frosts!


I want to put a tree in the front garden, and always wanted (from the
age of about 7!) a christmas type tree so i can put lights on. Now a
fully fledged adult (!) and here is my chance.


Front garden is about 9M x 3.5M. Don't want the tree to outgrow the
height of the house - circa 4.5M to eaves.


Any ideas, have looked at so many online, but conflicting information
and now getting lost!


Not necessarily a conical shaped traditional christmas tree, but
something pine like, with a bit of all year round interest hence a
traditional xmas tree not being the answer - anyhow, suggestions really
appreciated.


Thanks

Matt




--
MJM40

 On Wed, 8 Feb 2012 12:07:39 +0000, MJM40


You don't seem to know what you want, and you don't have enough space
for a standard tree.  Christmas trees are traditionally conical
conifers, however with your small yard I'd suggest a semi dwarf
variety.  Besides with standard trees it won't be five years and you'd
not be able to reach the top for decorating without a ladder, and that
only for another year or two as trees grow wider as well as taller.  I
suggest this intermediary sized tree but feel free to browse the other
conifers:
http://www.iselinursery.com/photopages/PiceaglaucaNorthStar.htm

 On 2/8/12 4:07 AM, MJM40 wrote:

You say you get frost.  But how cold does it get?  What are your summers
like?  In short, where are you and what is your climate?


--
David E. Ross
Climate:  California Mediterranean, see
<http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html>
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>

 wrote:

From the gardenbanter address, I assume you're in the UK.  Are you near Kent?
If so: Bedgebury has one of the outstanding conifer collections in the world:
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/bedgebury   Go see what the plants are like,
taking your garden book with you.

Likewise, most of the bigger botanical gardens and horticultural gardens like
Wisley, Edinburgh, and others will have well grown specimens of various
cultivars that may fit your needs. Be sure to understand how the sun is going
to hit the tree during various seasons... many of the shade tolerant conifers
winterburn badly.   Trees are big investments; choose wisely for your site.

Personally, I'd put in a mixture of things in your garden rather than one big
tree, so you can have more of a design of colors and textures and seasonal
interest.  The other thing about largish trees is that they get really
expensive if you have to take them down, particularly in close quarters like
you have.

http://www.finegardening.com/design/articles/designing-with-dwarf-conifers.aspx

Me, I'm sitting here watching one of the neighborhood Douglas firs tip slowly
over in our wet clay soil.  It's only about 40 ft, so just a baby, but if it
falls where I think it's going to, it's probably going to take down the power
line for this area.  Oh joy.

Have you considered hiring a landscape architect or whatever the British
equivalent of a consulting arborist is?  An hour or two's consultation
fee can narrow the range for your consideration, giving due weight to exposure,
climate, resistance to pollution, etc.

Kay

 On 2/8/2012 7:07 AM, MJM40 wrote:

How about a pyramidal holly of some sort? Pick the correct type and gender
and you will have shiny green leaves all year long pre-decorated with red
berries on a slow-growing tree that will not take over your patch of lawn.
Not quite your normal 'Christmas' tree but they can be attractive and tough.