Small Tree for a very small garden

What about a Coronet apple tree?

An apple tree would be my first choice every time for a small garden. Pretty flowers in spring and red fruit in summer, plus all the wildlife love it! But I would buy one from a specialist tree nursery, so you can be sure it'll grow to the size it says on the label! They will also give you advice for free. Happy hunting!

Or how about an Acer Palmatum? They come in light feathery green or feathery red. They both turn fantastic colours in Autumn, then lose their foliage until next Spring. I've had one in a large tub for eight years and it's only grown to 3' high and never fails to impress.

I'd go with an apple tree personally, as Craftnutter says if you go to a specialist nursery they will make sure the scion is grated onto the correct root stock to be slow growing. Much as I love Acer palmatum I would not put put in your corner unless you can be absolutely certain which one you are getting. Confined to a tub they will remain small, though they wont like it for more than two or three years. In the garden, in our climate they will grown to two to three metres fairly quickly. Don't be tempted by a 'slow growing' conifer... it may well be fine for 6 or 7 eyars then suddenly you'll realise it has outgrown its space and its welcome - digging one up is a pig, we should know we've removed several.
Whatever you plant have fun and enjoy.

If you are considering a fruit tree for a small garden make sure you buy the right rootstock look for M27 this is classed as very dwarf grows to 2-2.5m or M26 1/4 standard grows
to 3-3.5 m or a small tree with yellow flowers is gladitsia
"Golden Sunburst"

Just found out...... Carol Klein says you must grow 2 different apples trees within 18 metres of each other to ensure pollination or you won't get much in the way of fruit! Pollinating bees can travel 1 to 2 miles but 18 m ensures the maximum efficiency. If your garden is very small and no neighbours have any apple trees, "Queen Cox" is self pollinating. It won't crop as well but that may have to be your answer? Also, a "Golden Delicious" requires another apple variety that flowers at the same time, such as "Ellison's Orange".

Take heart, there are over 2,300 english variety of apple trees! (to find out more tel 01394 460 755/crown-nursery.co.uk)

Funny enough, I have 2 different apples trees in my garden but didn't realise why, I do now!! My plot is about 12m x 13m.

Craftnutter - are you sure it was 18 metres not 18 inches - I only ask because I doubt we could plant 2 apples trees in our large garden and have 81 feet apart.

Yep, that's what Carol Klein says in the "Grow your own" magazine, May 2009, page 69. I have 2 apple trees in my garden, plot size is 12m X 13m.

Now I have far too many options hee hee ;-)
I need to have a think but in the meantime many thanks for all the great suggestions. Regarding apple trees, would one self pollinating one be ok? I only ask as the garden is very small - the neighbours have 2 apple trees but over 18m away. I do fancy trying an apple, but only if I can get to the fruit before my daughter does.
Aside from this I have been very busy planting out today. I ordered some plants over t'internet and they arrived today - how fantastic is it, to get great plants and exactly the ones I wanted (and without getting sidetracked in the garden centre). I am very impressed and can feel another order coming on. Though my next day off is scheduled as a garden centre day.
Thanks again.

I have a 'family' apple tree with 3 varieties on one tree. They pollinate each other and fruit one after the other. It was originally from Woollies! But you do see them advertised in Sunday supplements etc.

Yes, you could try a self pollinating one. You just won't get as much fruit as you could with another tree within 18m. Good luck with Volunteer's suggestion, amazing!