Hi I'm looking for a small tree to plant in my front yard. I now have a small hydrangea tree (I think) but it's very small and doesn't provide any kind of privacy. I attached a pic of the yard. I was thinking to move it to the side, where the boxwood hedge is, and replace it with a taller tree. I'm looking for a tree that would flower - perhaps a linden tree? I'm really inexperienced with gardening, therefore I'm open to all suggestions. Thank you
Enclose the space with hedges or fencing and think of the tree as a feature to be seen against those. Even a large-growing tree will take years to develop, how long do you want to wait for screening? Making the area more sheltered and private will also make it more useful.
Thank you for the advice, Ron. I can wait a few years for a tree to grow, seeing that I just moved into the house. However, I like your fence/hedging idea, I will consider it.
Looks like plenty of room. Small, maybe a smoketree, Stewartia, harlequin glory bower, Japanese maple or dogwood. Looking for something bigger?
I love flowers and colours, so one of my favourite trees is Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia). Early in spring it covers itself abundantly with panicles of white flowers. During summer developing fruit changes colour from green to yellow, than orange then red. In fall the leaves turn deep yellow, rusty-red and brown. It creates, together with the red berries a wonderful display of rich, warm fall colours. If you are lucky and birds will not eat all the berries before winter, you will have a beautiful, red berries covered tree making a striking display on the white background of snow. The tree is rather fast growing and medium-sized, so it could fit in your yard.
Note poster is in Toronto, one or two of the above will not grow there (Harlequin glory-bower experiences occasional serious frost injury even here in western USDA 8*). Although exceptionally hardy, European mountain ash is prone to borers in eastern North America. *Possibly a hotter summer climate would ripen the growths more successfully
