Trees for small gardens - expert tips and new ideas

[@Istebrak]

I love how all the guests that wait for Alexandra to finish the intro look at her like she's the most adorable person ever.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's kind of you to say so - I'm not sure that they do!

[@carefreedelight2355]

But she is!

[@MedlifeCrisis]

Hehe I’ve noticed this on all the guest videos too 😂

[@LoriSavingWild]

Hi Alexandra. As a KZbinr myself I just want to tell you how appreciative I am of all the work you put into your wonderful videos. I live in the US but find good general ideas from your channel. Thanks so much. Lori

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, that's lovely to hear.

[@paulinewqi]

This video tutorial about trees is a gem for gardeners....can listen to J.Butterworth talk about trees forever....so much important information... Choice of trees in any garden is of paramount importance.....I found out the hard way when my trees mature..... Thanks so much for sharing..💝💐 Thanks to J.Butterworth too..🌻

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@pamd1861]

You always have the BEST guests! So informative. Thank you!!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@Tibetan2]

Loved this show. As always, your content is timely, relevant, and informative! Thanks so much for being such a great resource for gardeners. 🙏👏

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@laurentlejardinier]

You're right, all is said ! Thank you for this video and thank you for all your advice ! xx from France !

[@seanjamescameron]

Nice to see Jamie, he's come a long way since his first interview with me 9 years ago. I can see him presenting Gardeners' World at some point in his future.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Absolutely.

[@cornishviewnorth8994]

Wonderful opportunity to hear such an expert; what a treat. Thanks for all the explanatory notes and photos that accompanied it.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@sylvianblue]

This is as good as a gardening tv programme! Great content.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@theswissgardenvlog3189]

You always come up with the best videos ideas and I love the timing of your postings🤗 Following your last video on fall interest in the garden, I went to the garden center and bought every fall shrub and small tree I could find after realizing that my garden was mostly green all round😬. Now, I am sweating over where exactly to plant which shrub/tree😅 Space is not the issue but given my past mistakes on positioning trees in my garden, I will probably have to move some of the existing trees in the garden first before planting the new ones. I have two medium size prunus eminens umbraculifera in lollipop shape a small chestnut tree and a cherry blossom that is now growing in a very good size: The only problem is that the cherry blossom now find itself at the back of the wall of the extension we made to the house last year…I am working on moving it to a better position😏 I will soon be adding two medium size maple trees to the garden and if I can succeed with the right positions of all those shrubs I have in store for next season, I will only be looking at fruit trees next🙂 Another very informative video, thanks for sharing👍🏾

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! And I hope the tree and shrub planting goes well.

[@adrabruzzese7610]

Thank you Alexandra! I had a Japanese snowbell planted 3 year ago in the front of my house, it's a pollinator magnet and beautiful all year round. In the winter the structure and the color of the bark is stunning. In the back yard i inherited the most beautiful huge japanese maple tree, I live on a small city lot and both trees work very well.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Those both sound delightful. Thank you.

[@debiulrey-crosby4520]

I loved this video but would love to have had the photos stay on screen longer. It seemed that when you showed shots of the gardens/trees the photo was so brief that I had to keep rewinding so that I could take a screenshot. I love seeing you and your speakers, but would really love more time to view the garden photos. I live in South Dakota, USA and am zone 4b so many of the trees and plants you show will either not grow here or would be annuals. In spite of this, I still learn so much general information that I can easily adapt to my planting area. Thanks for great videos and guest speakers.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, that's very helpful. It can sometimes be difficult to get enough 'B roll', which is what the pictures and video of the gardens that overlays the speakers is called. (my personal preference is to have as much B roll as possible!). But I will try to run it longer or possibly duplicate it more.

[@dannac_8888]

I know I'm going to studying this video by repeat views because there was so much valuable information. I would love to see the both of you do a series and a wonderful tour of the grounds if you are both receptive to the idea. This is was brilliant. Thank you both! 🙏

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Great suggestion!

[@rayodelsol80]

This guy needs his own channel🌳🌲🌴

[@irairod5160]

My small trees of choice are Cercis (redbud), Amelanchier (serviceberry), Magnolia virginiana (sweet bay magnolia) Cornus (dogwood), and Morella/Myrica (bayberry, the southern species), all which are native to my area.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Lovely list of trees, I agree.

[@irairod5160]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thank you! I enjoy your videos so much!

[@ericjorgensen8028]

Late to this party.... I didn't check all the comments but if its been said I'm happy to repeat it... The go-to small tree is Stewartia. Lovely foliage and flowers, great fall colors, and interesting bark and habit. !!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Good to know!

[@NatureShy]

Love watching your videos as always! My small trees of choice are vine maple (Acer circinatum, like a Japanese maple), alpine larch (extremely rare species in the trade but I am obsessed with them), mountain hemlock, subalpine fir, western serviceberry, and Sitka or Western mountain ash (rather obscure, native species much smaller than the European Ash, but has amazing fall color and small airy foliage). All of them are native to the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. Vine maple, Sitka/Western mountain ash, and Western serviceberry can grow multi-stemmed, and often do if left to grow on their own. It is their natural growth form. Mountain hemlock and Subalpine fir are alpine conifers that tend to grow small and narrow, spire-like. You can plant a few of them very close together and create a nice alpine theme rock garden. Ones grown from seed do tend to grow a bit faster though, but still relatively slow. Ones grown in colder climates may grow much slower. I also love various native pines, like lodgepole pine var. latifolia (not Shore Lodgepole Pine, though both are native to the PNW), Whitebark pine, Jeffrey Pine (just like our native Ponderosa Pine, but significantly smaller and tolerant of alkaline, pumice/sandy, extremely nutrient poor soil) and (a bit of a stretch, but) Limber pine (Idaho native, with a small pocket of them in eastern Oregon) and Foxtail Pine (California native). Just like Ponderosa Pine, Jeffrey Pine has stunning red-brown scaly bark pattern, that absolutely stands out in snow. I'm growing that species for this reason alone. A little bit larger on the scale, more like what I would consider medium sized trees, I love to use Western larch and Western hemlock. Both of those tend to grow rather narrow, about 11 ft wide or so, and tend to get to be around 50 ft in the landscape, rarely taller (or so I have heard from multiple nurseries; I planted some, so we will see I suppose). And as far as I know, they rarely ever reach their full height in the wild. In the wild, the western larch and the western hemlock are the tallest species in their genus. Each growing over 100 ft tall here in the Pacific NW.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's a fascinating list of trees.

[@TheWholesomeGardener]

I like Mountain Ash, Lilac, Bay, Elderberry and Olive trees for small gardens. I love multi stemmed trees for added interest. I have a big bay tree that I pruned heavily at the bottom only and it has revealed beautiful entwinned multi stems - more a tree than a bush now! This was another great episode - thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you. I love multi-stemmed bay, what a great thing to do.

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Hello Alexandra, what a lovely discussion re my favourite subject: "Trees"! I recall an earlier chat where you mentioned also cutting back instead of removing, that is brilliant advice. The Airpot container I just loved. It seems perfect for allowing the tree to settle in as natural as possible. I enjoyed the cloche style shaped trees standing like soldiers with perfect rounded tops. As always there is much information to think about after your videos. Cheerio for now, till next time. Kind regards always :)

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@lulajohns1883]

Love this video. Just planted a sugar maple early fall in front of living room windows, perfect for watching birds. This had given me so many more ideas. Thx as always, nicely done

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you. The Sugar Maple sounds lovely.

[@nativesedibles2454]

Parotia, Cercis, Garya eliptica (love that one),so many maples,Corylus avellana 'Contorta', OH SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PLANTS THANK YOU ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO! LOVE THAT HE GREW ALL THE PLANTS ;)

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's a really beautiful list of small trees. I particularly love Parrotia persica

[@uprightfossil6673]

‘50 Plants you can’t kill’ sounds like a book I need right away.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Definitely a good one!

[@carole-f8x]

Good morning Alexandra, I loved this video. Jamie is so informative and I love that he thinks of the insects, especially pollinators. So much can go into choosing a tree, and he explains it all. I want to share that I bought a swamp magnolia on a whim when visiting Williamsburg Virginia without looking up any info and brought it to New Jersey, planted it near my deck to find out they don’t like to be pruned from the top and this tree was getting tall and blocking our view of the garden. I didn’t know what to do but a buck came and ruined the trunk with his antlers so that everything from that part upwards died and we were left with a bush shape which is what I was wanting to do myself. We will see next spring if it still flowers. But sometimes things are taken out of our hands for the good, and bad. Also we have many dogwoods here, in our garden, the cornus I believe is its name, and love them…they can get taller or kept shorter but is a small tree with so much color. Love trees and this video, thankyou ♥️

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you and good luck with the swamp magnolia!

[@dmg1866]

So pleased to hear all about trees in small gardens. I'm contemplating trimming my gleditsia triacanthos Sunburst which has grown beautifully over the last ten years or so, but not appreciated by my neighbor. Going to get a gardener to do this, maybe to pollard it. Hope it doesn't suffer too much. I also have an osmanthus burwoodii in a pot. Love the shiny leaves and fragrant blossom in early spring. I simply love trees and the birds do too. 🌳🌳🌳

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Hope the Gleditsia trim goes well!

[@liammullan2197]

This answered so many questions I've had about trees for my smallish garden. Many thanks for this excellent video.

[@Linda-4335]

I also found this video so informative. Thank you.

[@tmy1065]

It’s good to know any tree can be grown in a container. I purchased a Japanese citrus (Yuzu) fully intending to plant it out in the garden but decided it wasn’t going to work after all. Not knowing where to put it, I planted it in an extra pot. After 2 years, I’m very excited to have one ripening fruit I will be able to pick soon! Will take the advice about more fertilizer. I gave more this year snd it made a difference, but I could still get better results. Thank you for your informative videos! 👏🏼

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! And good luck for more fruit next year.

[@GingerCat157]

I also bought a Yuzu tree this year, and it has 2 small yuzu lemon now! Also growing it in a container :)

[@PatriciaG99]

Great timing! Thank you for another great video. My local authority are currently giving away trees to residents to help capture carbon and fight climate change. All trees on offer are natives however, which I think is good.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That is good.

[@janjans1178]

Perfect for a garden schemer like me! Just found you, very glad i have!

[@lesliekendall5668]

I have some super old lilac bushes (the home is 112 y.o. so ??) that I trimmed the lower branches off of to make them look like multi-trunked trees. Just gorgeous.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Sounds great!

[@lesliekendall5668]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Yes, any shrub can be pruned that way to get a tree-like effect.

[@libbysingscontrezzo8419]

Cornus kousa and Cornus florida are ubiquitous in Pennsylvania. It was like every post-war house built was required to have one in the front yard. I planted a Heptacodium last year. Saw it online and had to have it. It's only about 2 feet tall now and hasn't flowered yet, but already a handsome specimen. In fall the leaves take on a burgundy cast before they drop. Also have a very old Umbrella Catalpa tree that was here when I moved. No flowers, no fall color, but the shape and form of it is like something out of The Hobbit. Despite its antiquity, not all that big. And I planted an English Hawthorn "Winter King" tree. Lovely white flowers in spring (not the best smelling) lots of red berries through the winter, and it maxes out at about 25 ft. And don't forget dwarf fruit trees. Thank you Alexandra for another informative video.

[@nenemaria-cornfieldsgarden]

Thank you for this video, it's given me a bit more confidence to plant something larger in my garden. I've got a small garden (about 7m x 13m) which has a greenhouse, small veg plot, tiny patio and small lawn but I've been a bit paralysed with growing anything over a 2ft shrub in the border. I really need some height in the garden but it feels very intimidating! I end up sticking with small flowers in the borders but it looks flat and boring. I do have a Salix integra willow standard planted in the border and 2 small yellow cyprus (one in a pot one in the border). I would love fruit trees but even dwarf ones seem intimidating. My front garden is about 3m x5m lawn so very tiny but I've just planted out a dwarf apple at the top end that I've had in a pot for 2 years (my neighbours have apples so I'm not worried about pollination). I think I've been worried about things taking over (I have a huge 6ftx6ft hydrangea in one corner of the back garden which is beautiful but very large) although trees are very different in that the canopy can be pruned up unlike shrubs so you still get the open space underneath. It's just a bit overwhelming trying to find something to suit a small garden without worrying I'm going to put many years into growing it then having to take it out because it's too big.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Give it a go...and don't worry too much. Gardeners learn by making mistakes, but if you plant something like a fruit tree, I don't think it'll get too big. If you buy it quite young, then it'll grow gradually and you should get used to its size. Good luck!

[@mooncakerabbithender7203]

I have only just seen your channel after yesterday having to have my 26 year old cherry tree removed. My garden is 100ft long by 30 wide. Its all well having such grand trees but the roots are so damaging The roots from my tree were inches away from my house foundations and the neighbors extension plus the drains . Its so important that people realize not only the Hight and size of the tree but the roots also.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, indeed

[@beckyscheller9358]

Great video. Lots of information. Will definitely watch again.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@jcrane45585]

Love this video. Perfect timing as I am headed to buy trees!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Happy shopping! I'd rather like to buy some more myself after talking to Jamie, but don't think I have an appropriate gap in the garden.

[@carefreedelight2355]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden How do you manage such self restraint. I need the equivalent of a gastric band around my small garden.

[@AJsGreenThumbLLC]

Lovely video Alexandra! And thanks for introducing us to Jamie!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

A pleasure!

[@michelledawson485]

Lovely informative video , I have planted 3 crab apple trees this year , they are a wonderful small tree with all year round interest and don’t grow too tall.

[@juliepardo7767]

Absolutely enjoyed this video, Alexandra, thank you. Great advice! I'm always saying that I want to add more potted trees and shrubs in my garden. While I have no fuss with my potted shrubs, the thought of having to repot a large, heavy mounded tree always makes me hesitate unfortunately. I'm so glad Jamie described the airpot. I'll have to see if I can obtain this my area of Canada.

[@juliepardo7767]

Alexandra, thank you for providing so many interesting horticulture/landscape experts on your vlog. I learn something new every time. Would love to hear more about new garden/landscape innovations, maybe in future blogs? Cheers!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, I'll bear that in mind.

[@spanishonion2485]

I have three potted horse chestnuts-each now about 6foot high and one about a foot high - and three quite small oak trees...I felt guilty for not releasing them into the ground but after watching this i am at peace with them being in pots ...thankyou for such informative and may i also say restorative videos :)

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you. And after all, bonsai trees are just full size trees in tiny, weeny pots, so there's no reason why other trees shouldn't be happy in slightly larger pots.

[@normabishop2693]

One of your best videos! Coincidentally, I had purchased an Osmanthus x burkwoodii just the day before watching it. I was so pleased to learn they would grow here in the Pacific Northwest nearly on the water. The one I bought was grown right here in Washington state. Looking forward to the fragrance in the spring.

[@marylynnhaynes7558]

Great topic and video. I look forward to tuning in to your channel every week. 😊🪴

[@joycemorrow5840]

Loved this video. One of my passions is planting trees and shrubs in pots.. When one. Invest in a garden for

[@steveneardley7541]

I grew up in Maryland, and the cornus florida was native, growing under the huge tulip poplars, beeches, oaks, walnuts etc. Some people planted the pink variety of the dogwood, and of course they did very well. The native soil is red clay, and the dogwoods and azaleas seem to love it. On our block, there were a number of weeping cherry trees. They are not very long-lived, but boy are they gorgeous when they bloom. There are whole neighborhoods that are lined with cherry trees. They form tunnels over the roads. Because dogwoods, azaleas and rhododendrons are practically native, people aren't all that creative in their gardening. They just plant a line of azaleas in front of their houses and leave it at that. Trees grow so fast, and so tall, that there isn't much light anyway. Maryland is very wet, because it receives the water from the nearby mountains to the North and West. Washington D.C. was originally a swamp.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting, thank you.

[@ardas77]

Excellent info on Barcham tree finder. Is there anything similar for shrubs? It would take care of two hardest levels/ layers for me.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Quite a few of the online companies do something similar, for example, if you click on the type of plant you're looking at on Crocus, then there's the option to put in variables. www.crocus.co.uk/ And the rose companies often do that too. I haven't seen one that actually says 'plant finder' - you may have to click around a site a bit to find it.

[@DawnRenae22]

Superb video. Thx. I’m zone 7b in the states and this still brought great value to my gardening life and planting plans.

[@rainbowvisionart8025]

Thank you so much for this information. I've got a silver birch tree coming to me to live in our small garden. I'm going to try the Air-pot to keep it contained and shorten it's height. Looking forward to seeing the results now

[@heathermcelroy7171]

This was exactly what I needed, information about trees for our small garden. In fact, several of the selections were on my short list! That made choosing vastly easier!

[@nelidascott6917]

Another brilliant post ! Lots of ideas here ! I appreciate how well thought in regards to choosing your guests Thanks !!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kemifm]

Informative, trendy and all inclusive 👏. My favourite go to for the latest trends and information ❤️

[@Mikebaldwin007]

A great fresh look at choosing trees for the small garden, Jamie provided lots of good ideas.

[@ifeyhome]

Planted a Prunus Acolade (in UK) in September 2020 (1.80m) it had a small canopy. It's really put on some growth & had beautiful Blossom this spring & lively colour changing leaves this autumn 🍂

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Prunus is beautiful.

[@henrywilson3462]

Gardening tips are the best ones because they come from so much experience! I have recently got a greenhouse for myself from Mulberry Greenhouses and they have amazing service and high quality products.

[@rusticrye4676]

Brilliant! Thank you so much, Alexandra and Jamie!

[@rachelhoward334]

Another great video, the tree suggestions were spot on for me,

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@reddmeade3935]

Fantastic content and a really informative interview - such a nice guy! I learned a lot and will definitely spend some time carefully considering what's right for our garden. Thank you

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tubssamterracegardeningvlo1251]

Hi dear friend very beautiful garden nice collection attractive colours and nice information about gardening stay safe stay connected 👍☺️

[@ewanowak7013]

Good morning. Thank you so much for this video. As always so informative and so inspiring. During some difficult period of my life gardening had become my saviour. I had been planting, propagating from seeds and cuttings "creating" a quite a substantial collection of my "green companions". Among them 3 oaks (grown from acorns) and 2 silver birches. I absolutely love them, I am so attached to them and feel so privileged that I could observe their development and see them thriving . We recently had to move to approx 20x22 meters garden. Our trees are in pots, so far growing well and healthy but I am torn apart between decisions, whether to keep them as long as they can be happy in pots or giving them away to ie a park where they can spread their roots and their crowns. I was convinced that trees can grow in pots only till the certain point and after that they need to go to the ground. Your very interesting conversation put more lights on this subject; can you just please confirm that it also applies to Oaks, can I keep them in pots "for ever" without doing damage to them? Thank you again. All the best. Ewa & Sean

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I think it would be difficult to say 'forever', but I've certainly seen trees stay in pots for a decade or more. You would need to feed and water them, and keep them trimmed. And of course 'bonsai' trees are proper trees kept in very small pots to miniaturise them and they grow for decades. So the same principle should work for larger pots, in my opinion.

[@ewanowak7013]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden THANK YOU

[@GingerCat157]

I have a baby silver birch randomly growing in my small garden, don’t know where it came from but was really a nice surprise. I dug it up and planted in a container coz was worried that it would get into huge size in the future. I thought it would have to go into some woods in the future but so glad to hear that it’s ok to grow any tree in a container!! I’m going to give it a try and grow it in container so that I can keep it in my small garden :)

[@maevewhite4376]

Great questions and great answers!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sarahbarton2089]

Oh Thank you so much, Alexandra. I really love your videos anyway, but just now I am trying to help one of my sons plan a new garden as he is inexperienced to it. This will be SO useful. Hugs

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@bunnyfrancis7006]

You are a gem. Your videos are lovely.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@janeelliott6772]

Loved this video and Jamie’s expertise will help me in my current quest to find a tree. I might even venture down to Form. Thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@cambbrown6205]

As usual an enjoyable and informative video, thank you. Trying to work out where I can squeeze an Osmanthus in:-)

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Me too!

[@janettempest716]

I enjoy your videos I have very small garden and have 16 trees and love every one I have strawberrie tree and pineapple tree and witches tree the birds love the berries I love my Damson tree merry weather ❤️🌳❤️🥰

[@TheAvidGardenerNM]

What is the tree type in the video picture?

[@mariathiele5256]

I have heptacodium since 2017, very beautiful, robust, resistent to dry conditions, sandy soil ok, beautiful late flowers, scent, just plant it.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm looking for a space in my garden for one!

[@julesdavis1845]

Great ideas and information. Will try the air pots. Thank you.

[@giennefarcais6834]

I love my Texas Olive tree - no olives, but lovely white blooms all summer. And as we speak, am waiting on 10 small Eastern Redbuds from the Arbor Day Foundation - 4 for the garden, starting them in pots, and will give away the rest.

[@Stettafire]

Genuinely this video was so helpful. A handful of things I knew already but darn I just didn't think about doing a soil test. Turns out I have a very clayey soil on the extreame end. My favourite tree is acer campestre.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! All the acers are beautiful, though they haven't grown that well with me.

[@dawnb7457]

Excellent information! Thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tommunyon2874]

Arbor Day Society sent me red bud seedlings, though I am in a manufactured home park with small lot size. I container planted one, hoping to 'bonzai' it and form it as an espalier, but it burst the wooden container and achieved significant stature, entangling the trellis as it grew. Can't fight nature's imperative.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That sounds like one powerful tree!

[@idwerk]

Another wonderfully helpful video.

[@jessrouse8475]

Can you separate hydrangeas? I got some for Easter seems there are many outshoots .....can I separate yo make more ?? Or not smart ?

[@southengirl1]

Thank you so very much, this is great information that we will apply to our very small garden!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@patrickdempsey9886]

What a wonderful lesson in trees for the garden Alexandria and Jamie it is full of tips and ideas 💡 that I am going to put into my garden. I started 3 years ago but have no trees 🌲 or kind of wood land yet and am thinking of things before I start and want to do it properly before I start l love trees and the problem is I love ❤️ oak beach conifers only heard of strawberry tree to day which I love as the old Irish saying goes "I love my wife the only problem is I love every other mans wife's as well " so which one to chose is now the problem. God bless and thanks.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Happy choosing!

[@annashiegl]

So inspiring 😍 I planted a small cornus kousa last year but its leaves had black spots all over. I'm hoping it will have recovered this year

[@maryfeeney4218]

Thank you for this informative video.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You are welcome!

[@judithhall6683]

I have luckily managed to get 4 medium trees in my garden including a himalayan birch, pear and plum. I am also growing an oak from a conker. Unfortunately, at 2ft, it now needs replanting and my garden isn't big enough and I don't want someone, in years to come, to cut it down. I have to find somewhere to put it. Can I plant it in the countryside so I can keep an eye on it?

[@mariathiele5256]

Cornus mas is a beautiful small tree, yellow flowers very early spring, red fruit in autumn, it can be used as hedge, underplant it with blue bulbs,

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That sounds delightful, thank you.

[@seachange17]

I have Cornus mas too (Carnelian cherry). They aren't native here (originally from Persia and Turkey) but they are beautiful with their red berries that look like ruby cabochons. I felt bad planting non native so I balanced that by putting in 3 yellow birch (supports over 300 species).

[@McQueenPaul]

Good timing on this as I am looking into trees for my very small front garden here in Wales. I will have to grow in pots as the ground is rock hard. My main problem has been finding suppliers of decent potted trees in South Wales, so any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks for the great advice on this video.

[@cinziaallocca974]

Thanks for this Alexandra. My question is about overwintering potted trees in a cold winter climate, like Canada. I believe my zone is 6A where winters can be more the 20 below 0°Celsius

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Any plant in a pot will be a little more vulnerable than one in the ground, but otherwise the rules are much the same. So if it's a tree that normally survives 6A winters, then it'll probably be fine in the pot, but it could be worth wrapping the pot in something protective during any exceptionally cold spells. It's usually warmer just against the wall of a house, especially if the house is centrally heated.

[@Bandaid17]

Outstanding content. Could you tell us the name of the low mounded evergreens beneath the osmanthus in the Hampton garden photo?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm sorry, I've had a look and I don't know. I've seen some very nice beech and yew mounds in gardens this summer though.

[@irairod5160]

Lovely video, lovely hostess---thank you!

[@davidfleming1395]

Hello,do you think a Rowan tree would be suitable for a small garden, thanks

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, provided it's appropriate for your climate and soil, which you can check online or on the label.

[@melissamybubbles6139]

I need to have a tall screening plant in a 3 1/2 ft wide space. Currently there are three junipers that get 5ft wide. Now I need to consider whether a trellis with a vine or espalier bush might be more or less work than pruning the junipers multiple times per year. Is there an even narrower tree? Can elderberry be espaliered?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm not entirely sure, but I don't think I'd espalier any of mine. The upright yews can stay quite narrow but will ultimately get quite broad. If you have a good tree or plant nursery near you, it's a good idea to ask them as they should stock trees that will do well in your area.

[@melissamybubbles6139]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thank you.

[@HBomb1983]

Delightful video Alexandra ☺️🌲🌳🌴

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@kerryjean2223]

Such a very handsome and clever young man x

[@jenniferchristiansen2040]

What plants are appropriate for homes with septic tanks?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It seems to be quite a complex issue, and not one I'm an expert in, so I think it could be a good idea to ask the manufacturers or suppliers of the kind of septic tank you use. Some say you can plant 10ft away (anything) and others advise you to be careful of plants and trees that love water.

[@sammysworld5485]

Very educational. Thank you.

[@LinusCello75]

Over here in the states, many fruit trees are grafted on to “dwarf” rootstock to help keep trees smaller. I haven’t seen the same thing for ornamental trees (for some conifers a more heat tolerant rootstock is used). Are some EU nurseries experimenting with dwarf root stock for grafted trees? (Some people pollard crepe myrtles across the pond; some have termed it “crepe murder”)

[@rhondaduncan7602]

"Crepe murder" it is! ☹️ With the wide range of sizes and habits now available, there is no valid reason to pollard, or "murder", our beautiful crepe myrtles on this side of the pond. Simply select the size and style that works for the space. The trees discussed in this video apparently do not come in an assortment of sizes. After all, why add to gardening tasks if a tree were available in the size one requires? The olive trees were stunning! Thank you again, Alexandra, for another informative video. 🌸🌿 Lots of new ideas for me.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

There are lots of fruit trees grown on dwarf rootstock over here, and I think some ornamentals too.

[@clionamm]

I really enjoyed this video and found it really inspirational in helping me choose what new trees to hopefully buy 9if I can find them, in Ireland) for my smaller garden. Most of mine need to be in pots so I was delighted to see all the different trees that can do well in pots. Thanks for a lovely video. :-)

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@BeautifulOaks]

By any chance, do you or Jamie know if trees grown in the ground and are severely shaped as they grow will still grow large trunks and root systems? I ask because it may seem tempting for gardeners to grow them near houses and fences assuming small tree, then small roots. Thanks.

[@amyjones2490]

Very interesting video.

[@ollvebranch]

Thank-you. Thinking about buying pleach trees to screen a property line and get rid of 1st floor flat full of nosy neighbours. Any ideas?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Hornbeam and beech are the ones most commonly used, because they hold onto their leaves in winter, although the leaves do thin a bit. They change colour, too.

[@roserainbird2365]

‘50 plants you can’t kill’ I’m sold.. 😂

[@JRudy17]

What guidance can you give regarding a tree or shrubs hardiness in relation to ones zone when over wintering a potted specimen?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

The hardiness zones in pots should be roughly the same as the hardiness zones in the ground, but a pot in an exposed position may get colder. If your pots are close to the house, they should benefit from the heat given out by the house, but further out in the garden, I'd suggest 'going a zone up' just to be on the safe side. Metal pots get colder than others, and smaller pots get colder than bigger ones. Hope that helps.

[@stampinghippo7157]

YES!! Hubby and I just planted an Eleagnus ebbingei today (shrub form, 1,30 m in hight), I showed him your video and he now has an idea how this will be looking in a few years! As always your video came at the right time and with the best recommendations. Thanks for always being such a great help in all things gardening! Stay safe, Hanni.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's lovely to hear, thank you!

[@themooncaller]

I don't understand this chaps website - they don't see to sell go the public have I understood that correctly?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It's a bit vague, I think they do sell to anyone who's interested, but it's a very new operation so just deciding how it will do things. It's not technically open to the public but I think they're always very welcoming when people turn up.

[@francesmclaren7881]

Thankyou. This was so informative.

[@blmchenhippie]

THANK YOU! This was just what I was waiting for ❤️ Actually I've been eyeing Heptacodium for the past year or so, but I think next year I will just go for it. Also I loved osmanthus burkwoodii and cornus kousa since I really like the multi-stemmed look. Has anyone had any experience with rhus typhina? I love the leafes and color but am a little hesitant since I heard it tends to come up all around the place and might be invasive...? 🙈 Thank you again and please keep up the great work!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! Yes, I think the Rhus is somewhat invasive, but unless it's listed in your area as too invasive, then it's probably OK. There's some in my street but it doesn't seem to spread - just a question of checking what the 'don't plant' plants are where you live.

[@RoysTimberArtTechniques-mv6gt]

Very informative

[@kathleenpugh7350]

Whan is it safe to transfer a baby angel trumpets from the flower pots and what steps to take?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm sorry to say I've never grown them, so I'm probably not the best person to ask. But you could ask whoever you got them from?

[@kathleenpugh7350]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden thank you! I'm losing a little of my plants for some. Gotta get my books our, but they are in storage.