Ornamental trees for my lawn

[Daniel M]

Hi All

My wife and I have recently bought our first house and I'm in the process of tidying up the front lawn. I have cut down a tree (cherry, apparently) that had multiple roots on the surface of the lawn, ruining the grass. I want to have a nice lawn so that's why I've removed it. Are you able to suggest a tree that I can plant in it's place? I don't want the same problem with roots and I don't want it to get too big.

 

Many thanks

Daniel

[Khriss]

OR Liquid Ambar, nice autumn color also ( just fr a different suggestion)  k

[gary112]

54 minutes ago, Daniel M said:

Hi All

My wife and I have recently bought our first house and I'm in the process of tidying up the front lawn. I have cut down a tree (cherry, apparently) that had multiple roots on the surface of the lawn, ruining the grass. I want to have a nice lawn so that's why I've removed it. Are you able to suggest a tree that I can plant in it's place? I don't want the same problem with roots and I don't want it to get too big.

 

Many thanks

Daniel

Acer Brilliantisimum is a nice ornamental,not too big and a lovely salmon pink colour

[Daniel M]

16 minutes ago, gary112 said:

Acer Brilliantisimum is a nice ornamental,not too big and a lovely salmon pink colour

Many thanks Gary - really helpful!

How wide would the trunk get do you know?

And do you have any other suggestions as I may actually plant a couple of trees.

Cheers

Daniel

[gary112]

15 minutes ago, Daniel M said:

Many thanks Gary - really helpful!

How wide would the trunk get do you know?

And do you have any other suggestions as I may actually plant a couple of trees.

Cheers

Daniel

There are quite a few ornamental Acers,if you have a look theres a few different coloured ones and can all be kept to a reasonable size

[Dan Maynard]

Rowan is another popular one.

[Bunzena]

Agree with Gary - an Acer would be a good choice.  I have a bit of an Japanese Acer 'problem' - with a collection of 100+ varieties.

 

If the spot is breezy and in full sun - be cautious.  Japanese Acers don't like too much of either.  Varieties I'd look at  would be any Acer palmatum dissectum [the weeping, mound forming varieties], Acer palmatum Osakazuki [blazing autumn colour - gets to 5m in height], Acer palmatum Trompenburg [very sun tolerant, very dark leaves, nice upright habit 4m high], Acer palmatum Shin deshojo [gorgeous pink spring leaf, but needs shade and shelter, 3m high] or Acer palmatum Sango kaku [coral pink stems, fresh yellow/green leaves in summer, needs some shelter 4m+ high].

 

I've seen all of the above in B&Q over the past few years - so not too difficult to obtain. 

 

If you want to create something really eyecatching, then mix up an Acer shirasawanum aureum [really acid green] with Acer palmatum Bloodgood [deep, dark red].  Looks spectacular.

 

People say they need acid soil - but I would disagree.  Perfectly happy in any soil that's not strongly alkaline.

[Silverhooker]

Another vote for rowan, and the birds like the berries !

[Mark J]

5 hours ago, Bunzena said:

Agree with Gary - an Acer would be a good choice.  I have a bit of an Japanese Acer 'problem' - with a collection of 100+ varieties.

 

If the spot is breezy and in full sun - be cautious.  Japanese Acers don't like too much of either.  Varieties I'd look at  would be any Acer palmatum dissectum [the weeping, mound forming varieties], Acer palmatum Osakazuki [blazing autumn colour - gets to 5m in height], Acer palmatum Trompenburg [very sun tolerant, very dark leaves, nice upright habit 4m high], Acer palmatum Shin deshojo [gorgeous pink spring leaf, but needs shade and shelter, 3m high] or Acer palmatum Sango kaku [coral pink stems, fresh yellow/green leaves in summer, needs some shelter 4m+ high].

 

I've seen all of the above in B&Q over the past few years - so not too difficult to obtain. 

 

If you want to create something really eyecatching, then mix up an Acer shirasawanum aureum [really acid green] with Acer palmatum Bloodgood [deep, dark red].  Looks spectacular.

 

People say they need acid soil - but I would disagree.  Perfectly happy in any soil that's not strongly alkaline.

Cracking advice there.

[nepia]

It certainly is; there's a person who knows their Acers.

 

Thanks @Bunzena: I'm moving house in less than a fortnight to a place with an acre and a half of garden and woodland. The soil is slightly acidic - Azaleas and Rhodies do well there - so Acers will definitely feature in the planting, of which there will be a lot; I want to cut the mowing down.  I don't see the point of a work intensive green desert when you can plant up with trees and shrubs.

[Bunzena]

1 hour ago, nepia said:

It certainly is; there's a person who knows their Acers.

 

Thanks @Bunzena: I'm moving house in less than a fortnight to a place with an acre and a half of garden and woodland. The soil is slightly acidic - Azaleas and Rhodies do well there - so Acers will definitely feature in the planting, of which there will be a lot; I want to cut the mowing down.  I don't see the point of a work intensive green desert when you can plant up with trees and shrubs.

Wow - that sounds like a fantastic spot to plant.  Very envious - in the best possible way!  😉

 

Looking forward to the 'Open day'. 

 

The best book - I think - on Japanese Maples is by Vertrees and Gregory.  Really good resource.  

 

For the nutters like me - I really like the less well-known Acer shirasawanum varieties.  Harder to find but really overlooked.

 

Enjoy.