I love adding small trees, plants, and shrubs wherever I can. Every gardener knows that they’re a fantastic way to “green” up your existing yard space. If you’re a gardener with a tiny yard, never fear! It’s absolutely possible to grow trees in small yard spaces without running into space issues, here are a few small landscaping trees that are up to the task!
Small Landscaping Trees
The Lemon Tree
Gardeners can grow lemon trees outdoors and in! Lemons are a great tree for container gardening, and any other small space. Lemon trees can be started from seed, but it will be a long while until your first harvest! Instead, visit your local nursery to pick up a dwarf lemon tree. It’s important to remember to protect your lemons from frosts!
Appalachian Red Redbud
If you like stunning, fragrant, and edible flowers, this tree is just the thing for your yard! Don’t expect this tree to get more than 15-25 feet tall.
Dwarf Apple Trees
Dwarf apple trees are the perfect tree for a fruit loving gardener! Tuck them in a balcony container, or give them a small, sunny area of your garden! Certain varieties of dwarf apple trees will grow to be 4-8 feet tall. Do some research and decide which variety is best for your yard.
Japanese Maple
The Japanese Maple is known for it’s dramatic colored leaves in the Fall months. When your plant is young, make sure it has plenty of afternoon shade to protect it from harsh lighting. Plant your Japanese Maple in the fall months for better growth and overall health!
Crape Myrtle
If you live in an extremely hot area of the world, the Crape Myrtle tree is just the thing for your small yard! Expect vibrant colors in the summer months, that sometimes even extend to the fall! Who wouldn’t love a tree this color? Definitely one of my favorite small landscaping trees.
Vine Maple
Didn’t get enough fall color from the crepe myrtle? Plant the Vine Maple as well! These trees turn a stunning shade of deep orange in the fall. These plants grow to be 15-20 feet tall.
Hop Bush
Okay, okay! You got me! This isn’t technically a tree, but I love these bushes so much that I couldn’t resist sharing! Hop Bushes add a deep color and texture to any landscape. But the best part? They’re super drought tolerant!
Fringe Tree
The Fringe Tree will grow virtually anywhere, from warmer to cooler areas of the United States. Expect to see small clusters of stunning white flowers in the early summer months. This plant smells incredible!
Saucer Magnolia
On the bigger end of the small tree spectrum, gardeners can expect Saucer Magnolias to reach a height of 25 feet tall. The plant will bloom with red, white, purple, or pink blossoms in late Spring. The amount of Magnolia blossoms will depend on the health of the tree.
Kosa Dogwood
Plant this tree in the early Spring for best development and growth. It will need an area of rich soil to survive as well as plenty of sunlight! Keep the soil moist, because the Dogwood isn’t exactly a super drought tolerant tree. You can propagate this plant, visit Gardening Know How for more.
And just to give you more food for thought, I’ve included some info about one of my all time favorite trees.
Do any of these grow at 6000 ft in Colorado Springs zone 3-4 ?
Would they grow within 50 ft of Blue Spruce or other large ( 100′ tall with a 26′ drip line) ?
Are they drought tolrant?