It would be a weeping cherry for me with a weeping crab apple as second choice. The cherry has the nicer blossom but the crab apple has fruits as well.

I have a very pretty Dwarf Robinia Pseudoacacia . . . I emphasis the "Dwarf"! It is only 4 -5 ft, has curly pale green leaves, and when the branches are bare they also look attractively curly.

If a weeping form is not essential, I'd also recommend Cercis japonica (Judas tree) for it's lilac-coloured flowers; it is very slow growing.

Agree with Bulbaholic's choices - if weeping is non essential, Amelanchier 'Ballerina' is a good one too.

Yes - good idea Bamboo. Tony, Amelanchiers are pretty all year: white blossom in April, then leaves slowly turn bronzey.

If you do go for a dwarf weeping tree, think about the eventual spread of the branches as they will be low down. This could get in the way of the drive/path eventually. Make sure that you plant it far enough over or else you'll be asking how to prune it back!!

Betula 'Youngii' (tough), Prunus 'Cheal's Weeping' (as per Bulbaholic's note), or a conifer - Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula', or Picea omorika 'Pendula'. With the evergreen of dwarf rhodos and a deciduous azalea or two, I'd go for the rich evergreen of a conifer. Worthy

Do you not consider those a bit large to plant that near a house, Worthy? If its in the centre, that means only 6 feet from the house windows...

Some of the above will get too large in time, not to mention possible root spread, although regular pruning would help...How about a deciduous conifer, Larix kaempferi 'Stiff Weeping' ...will never get out of hand including root spread. Very handsome weeping small tree, like a cascading waterfall, attractive foliage good autumn colour and the bare branches also look good in winter

Cor, that's a little beauty, Bluespruce, just googled it - not one I've come across. Unusual too, Tony.

I was trying to suggest the more easily available ones. The larix is a nice tree, but easily sourced? I agree it's a cracker in and out of leaf. Couldn't really see the distances involved. Does need to be a small tree if there's only 6ft to play with. Just looked, and seems o be quite easily sourced. Now all we have to do is convert them to conifers! We will win! Worthy

4m x 4 m, right outside the window, as I understand it, Worthy...

One thought occurs. What's under the shingle? Has it been properly laid with a scalpings base? If so, it will need some thorough preparation to remove the hardcore and wake the soil up a bit before planting. Worthy

OK Tony - over to you. "What do you think of it so far?" (hope the answer's not "rubbish"!) (Catch phrase from Morcambe and Wise days). Hope you like one of these ideas? Let us know what you choose . . .

Have you considered an evergreen tree ... not necessarily weeping ? That would mean you wouldn't have lots of leaves to clear up in the autumn.. just another suggestion :o)

ive got a weeping larch ~ no real flowers but ive got it just cos i love it ~ not very big either.

a weeping silver birch perhaps there realy nice.

A couple of thoughts...first off, if this is a north facing site then you will have problems growing Lavender or other Mediterranean plants.

Having said that your pic shows quite a good amount of sun coming over the top of the house roof, which means that the part of the garden furthest from the house is as possibly as much south-facing as anything - it's worth checking how much sun/light reach the different parts of the garden at this time of the year and plant accordingly.

Most people decide on the plants they want to grow and hope for the best, but a happier, more successful approach is to select plants that will suit the conditions that are available.

Consider soil type & depth as well as the direction/aspect, plus, as Worthy implies, you may well have to bring new topsoil into the site before you can plant anything

With regards to a dwarf, weeping tree, one of the many named varieties of Acer palmatum dissectum might work well in terms of scale and shade tolerance.

acers are gorgeous ~ my favourite ~ i have 3 in semi shade and all doing well

Thanks for all the comments. Wow, arn't you lot full of knowledge.... We settled on a small Salix - now planted and pictures to follow. Grandaughter aged 7 did most of the work. Old age has it's compensations.....

As regards the rest of the area, we will have to wait and see how the sun falls when we get to March April time. As it is a bungalow we may be lucky with the front section of it but the back is definately in the shade.

We originaly put an acer there but the wind made the leaves fall early so we will be resiting that in the back garden where it is a bit more sheltered.

Didn't feel inclined to take anyone's recommendations here after all Tony!! hahaha Lol!!

And I'm very curious as to which 'small' Salix you chose? Kilmarnock?

Kilmarnock it was Bamboo!

How do you know?!!!

Now i'm confused...!!!!

It was a Salix Carea Kilmarnock.

Unfortunately the wifes decision is final and overides ALL decisions i make in this household ... hence ... Salix Carea Kilmarnock.

Well ... she'd like to think so anyway ... but it was part of her Christmas present and she chose it.

Keep a close watch for the first signs of rust during early summer and have a treatment spray handy - these plants are very prone to this infection.

There is a photo on Tony's pages Sheila :o)

Ah, thanks Bluespruce. I was beginning to think he had bought it from you! :o))

Nooo, rare dwarf & miniature conifers only!! Lol ;o)