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Trees come in all sizes, from towering oaks to small fruit trees you can grow on your patio fruit trees you can grow on your patio. And if you’re looking for something justttt right for a small yard, the choices may seem endless. To pick the perfect species for your garden, first measure out exactly how much space you have.
“A good rule is to plant a tree away from the house at a distance equal to one-half of the maximum tree height,” says Kate Karam, a landscape architect with Monrovia. “For a 20-foot tree [at maturity], plant no less than 10 feet from the house. Tree roots can grow beyond the canopy of a tree, so a bit of wiggle room is a very good idea.”
When selecting a tree for a small space, consider ornamental trees, which are often slower growing, as well as trees that come in dwarf varieties, advises Missy Henriksen, a spokeswoman for the National Association of Landscape Professionals.
Different species can suit different needs — shade, privacy, color — depending on the shape of the tree and its canopy, not to mention potential maintenance. Pretty fall foliage can also mean more raking is in your future! These nine species — including crowd-pleasers like dogwoods, crepe myrtle, and crabapples — picked by landscape professionals offer the best of the best when it comes to beauty, size, shade, privacy, and hardiness. Find out if they’ll grow in your garden by checking the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map here.
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