Plant a small tree for wildlife A tree offers seasonal food and shelter for all sorts of creatures. Here’s our pick of the best
A tree offers seasonal food and shelter for all sorts of creatures. Adrian Thomas suggests a few suitable specimens for gardens
How many of us are put off from planting a tree because we don’t think we have space? Or because we’re nervous of choosing badly and ending up with something that romps out of control like the proverbial beanstalk? It’s true that a badly chosen tree can quickly become a nuisance, blocking out light from garden and home, inhibiting the growth of plants beneath, and just looking out of place. I moved into a house where a tulip tree had been planted a few metres from the back door. It was barely 10 years old but its branches were already knocking at the first floor windows; they can reach 30m (100ft) tall, so it had to go! However, while a tulip tree is clearly a big mistake in a small garden, having some kind of tree is so important, not only because of the all-season interest it brings, but also because trees are elemental in the lives of so much garden wildlife – as a nesting place, song perch, safe retreat or free-standing food source.
The good news is that there are all sorts of wildlifefriendly trees to suit even the smallest space. It’s all about judicious choice, and in some cases a cunning plan to keep them in check! Your first option is to pick trees that are inherently small. For example, whereas the red-berried common rowan, Sorbus aucuparia, typically grows to 10-15m (32-50ft), its pink-berried Chinese cousin Sorbus vilmorinii only reaches about 5-6m (16-20ft), yet it’s just as much a hit with winter thrushes. Another possibility is to choose a tree that’s receptive to pruning. There are many trees that won’t enjoy such treatment, but – as a rule of thumb – if a tree species can be used as a hedging plant, it’ll be quite happy being kept under control. This includes yew, hollies and hawthorns, all of which have so much to offer for wildlife. The third option is to choose fruit trees that have been grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock. This is the magic trick by which the ‘head’ of one tree has been bonded onto the ‘feet’ of another, giving the fruit type you want up top while the roots determine how large (or small) the tree ultimately grows. The naming system used to indicate the tree’s eventual size is a little baffling! For example, an M27 rootstock for apples produces a smaller tree than an M9, which is smaller than an M26. Don’t worry, our guide below will help you select the right one for your space. In fact, fruit trees are a godsend, in that they can be turned into espaliers, fans and cordons, which are effectively twodimensional trees that hug a wall, with all the same benefits for wildlife (and for you) as if they were growing out in the garden. All those options mean there’s a tree for even the smallest back yard. In the gallery on the right you’ll find my picks of the best small trees that not only look good but also will pack a punch for wildlife.
Right tree, right place
Where you plant your tree, even a small one, is as important as the type you choose. This is where you need to bring your imagination into play: what will the tree ultimately look like? Will it obscure the
view, or a path? Or that of your neighbours? Will it cast shade where you really want sunlight? Is there a risk that its roots will affect paving or a building? As a general rule, try to plant it towards the north side of a small garden. Of course, think too about what light and moisture the tree itself will get – many prefer full sun, and won’t enjoy being in the ‘rain shadow’ of a building, which only receives a small proportion of the rain that falls.