Helpful information
Timing: Autumn, winter, spring
Where to do it: Outdoors
Garden space: Large garden, small garden
Trees can bring so many benefits to your outdoor space. We share a step by step guide to planting a small tree in your garden.
- Planting a tree can be quite a physical activity, providing aerobic and strengthening exercise
- Choosing your tree and planning where to plant provides the opportunity to learn more about plants and your own outdoor space
- A tree can provide interest all through the year. Observe how it changes in every season and enjoy watching it grow
A small Japanese maple in a garden
Trees are amazing plants. They can provide oxygen, shade and absorb heat, sound and air pollution. They can also provide food and shelter for different animals, contributing to the ecosystem of your garden.
Did you know a mature oak tree supports up to 280 different insect species plus birds and mammals!
Planting a tree can add so much to a garden, including height, structure, colour and texture. Trees can also take up a lot of space. In this article, we will look at options for smaller trees and how best to plant them.
When to plant a small tree
Mid autumn through to early spring is an ideal time to plant a tree in your garden. The tree can establish itself (take root) without you needing to water as often as you would in summer.
Because the ground can get very hard in winter, many people consider autumn is the best time to plant a tree.
Where to plant a small tree
When looking at where in your garden to place your small tree, there are a few things to think about.
- Space. How will the tree affect the garden as it reaches its maximum size? Think about the shade it will create and how its roots will spread. You don't want your tree too close to your house, or where it will disturb your neighbours.
- Exposure. Is the spot you are thinking of sheltered or windy? Some trees are tough and can cope with exposed spots, but others are more fragile.
Container or bare root
When you buy a tree, the most common options are a tree growing in a container or a bare root tree.
Trees in containers are available most of the year around. Because it is growing happily in its container, you do not have to rush to plant it once you buy it, as long as you keep it well watered. It probably has a nice shape already, as it will have been pruned before being sold.
Bare root trees come without a container. The roots are usually wrapped in something to protect them. They are available for a shorter period, generally from November to March when trees are dormant. They are typically quite a bit cheaper than trees in containers. You may have to take care of more shaping and pruning yourself to get the tree to the desired shape.
Make it easier
Some people think trees in containers tend to be more successful at establishing in people's gardens. Not everyone agrees. If this is your first time planting a tree, you may find it easier with a tree in a container.
White cherry blossom. Photo credit: Anna Jiménez Calaf/Unsplash
When looking for a small tree, there are a few different options you could go for.
1. Cultivars or varieties that are small or ‘dwarf’
With some tree species, you can find cultivars (varieties) that will never grow too tall or wide. Plant labels in garden centres or information online should show the eventual size of the tree.
Commonly grown smaller trees include varieties of:
- Crab apple (malus)
- Japanese maple (acer)
- Cherry (prunus)
- Rowan
- Magnolia
2. Trees with a weeping or twisted habit (appearance)
Some trees grow in a curly or twisted fashion. This makes them grow slowly, allowing them to be kept small. Examples are:
- Corkscrew hazel
- Contorted willow
3. A regular tree kept small through pruning and other techniques
Many types of tree that would otherwise grow big can be grown in small spaces. This can be a more time and labour intensive option, as you will need to correctly prune or train them:
- Fruit trees, like apple trees
Fruit trees can be trained into various shapes. These include espalier (flat against a wall), cordon (a thin tree of only one stem) or fan (short trunk) to take up less space. You can also buy fruit trees that have several varieties of fruit growing on one tree. This is an interesting way to get different fruit without needing extra space.
- Standard trees
A standard tree has a straight main stem with no side shoots or branches. You can prune the growth at the top to limit the size of the tree.
- Topiary
Topiary is the art of shaping plants through regular trimming. It can help keep them small and attractively shaped. Popular trees for topiary are yew and box trees.
4. Growing trees in containers
Another way to bring trees into a smaller garden space is to grow them in containers. This will restrict the growth of the tree, as it has less space for its roots to spread.
Trees growing in containers will need more frequent watering and feeding compared to trees growing in the ground.
Our step by step guide below is for planting a tree in the ground.
Know your soil
Different trees prefer different soils. For example, Japanese maples like slightly acidic soil (although grow ok in most gardens). If you know your soil type, it's worth checking the tree you have in mind is happy growing in it.
Essential items:
- Tree
- Spade
- Compost
- Stake and tree tie
- Sledgehammer / mallet
- Watering can / hose
Optional items:
- Fork
- Fertiliser
Tools to make it easier
- Two handed wheelbarrow
Follow our step by step guide to plant your small tree with ease.
Step 1: Gather your equipment
Get everything you need and bring it to the spot where you will be planting.
Make it easier
Some of the equipment for this is quite heavy. Placing it in a two-handed wheelbarrow before moving to the planting site may reduce strain.
Step 2: Dig the planting hole
You want the hole you dig to be around twice as deep and twice the diameter of the pot the tree was grown in. If you are planting a bare root tree, make sure the hole is as deep as the roots of the tree.
If the soil is very compacted (pressed together with no space), take a fork and break up the soil around the sides of the hole. This will make it easier for the roots to spread.
Make it easier
Digging a large hole is a considerable physical workout. You may want to get some help with this step if you have challenges with strength or mobility. Our guide to digging in the garden has more tips and techniques to make digging easier.
If you buy a fairly young tree, it will need a smaller planting hole than a more mature one.
Step 3: Add compost, fertiliser and water (optional)
It's a good idea to add some multi-purpose compost into the bottom of the planting hole, especially if your soil is poor quality.
You could also add some slow-release phosphorous rich fertiliser at this stage to encourage root growth.
If the soil is very dry, water the planting hole before adding the tree, as well as after planting.
Step 4: Position the tree in the planting hole
Place the tree in the centre of the planting hole. If the tree is in a container, you want the container soil level to be the same as the hole soil level.
Stand back and look at the tree from different angles. Adjust if necessary.
Step 5: Add compost to firm the tree in place
If your tree is in a container, now carefully remove it and put it back in place in the hole.
Carefully fill the hole with compost all around the tree roots. Firm / press the compost in as you go, so the tree is securely planted. Continue until the hole is completely filled all around the sides and to the top.
Step 6: Stake and tie your tree
Staking a newly planted tree protects it from wind as it grows. It is still helpful to do if your tree is planting in a sheltered position.
The aim is to make the lower section of the tree trunk secure, while allowing it to be moved by the wind higher up the tree. This promotes effective root growth and anchoring.
Set the stake at 45 degrees to the trunk. Have the pointed end towards the ground. Drive the stake into the ground, making sure it is well clear of the roots of the tree. You may want to use a sledgehammer or mallet to do this.
Once the stake is in place, secure it using a tree tie.
Top tip
A stake is temporary. You will want to remove it in 1 to 2 years. Be conscious of this as you hammer it into the ground!
You will also want to check your tree tie as the tree matures, to make sure it doesn't become too tight. Most tree ties can be easily loosened.
Step 6: Water well
Water your tree thoroughly. You could add a mulch to conserve moisture and prevent competition from weeds. This is a layer of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure, compost or bark chips.
Congratulations, you have planted your small tree!
Continue to water well as it grows. Check on the stake and tie. In time, you may want to think about pruning it to keep a desired shape and size and in good health.
Make time to just observe your tree through the seasons. It should be with you for many years, so enjoy experiencing as it grows and changes.
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