Low trees or shrubs for tiny garden in urban area...

redseat1

Office fronts onto a busy street, with a tiny garden inside front railings with a path a couple of metres long up to the front door. On each side of the path is an area about 2m long by about 3m wide. At the moment it's just grass and weeds. Would like to put something there, a few shrubs, just to take the urban wasteland look off it. Nothing too big to block front windows or light, nothing with deep or extensive roots to crack the path.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

looksee

Would you consider clearing it and putting down some weed membrane, cover with gravel and add a few large rocks for interest then grow a couple of shrubs in large pots set among the rocks. What shrubs you put in depends on how much sun the area gets. What direction does it face? What time of day do you get sun in that room?

macraignil

A small shrub I think is nice is the Pittosporum tom thumb and there are lots of shrubs that can be kept to whatever size you like once they get trimmed regularly with Cotoneaster franchetii being one I think offers interest throughout the year.

A small tree I like would be the fuji cherry Kojo no Mai and there are lots of different Japanese acers that have interesting leaf colours and don't grow very big.

I agree with Looksee about removing the grass but I don't like those weed suppressant membranes and would prefer to plant something to act as a ground cover plant like Ajuga.

Happy gardening!

looksee

I don't normally like the membranes but this is one situation where it is worthwhile, I would not use it in shrub or flower beds.

redseat1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120130357#Comment_120130357

It faces south east so plenty of sunshine, and no shadow over it from any neighbouring building.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I like the idea of a small cherry tree. Would like to keep the grass though, I like little patches of green in urban areas. The thought of of wild flowers appealed, but not sure it would look great outside of summer.

ttnov77

How about some irish native wildflowers? Low maintenance and long blooms

looksee

Sorry to disagree, but while I love wildflowers and my 'lawn' - fairly large expanse of grass and weeds aka wildflowers - has lots of small stuff flowering in it, I don't agree that wildflowers are the solution here. Not wildflowers in the usual gardening sense anyway. They have a short flowering time then have to be left to re-seed themselves, at which stage in a small, semi formal area the OP is talking about, they just look scruffy.

ttnov77

You are absolutely right to have your opinion and to disagree. However its not true that all wildflower meadows have short flower period, some wildflowers themselves yes as for example poppies go fast but if you have good native mix the succession of different flowers will ensure long bloom. 3x2m is plenty of space, I grow wildflowers in pots with spring bulbs :D

ttnov77

Also only annuals need resending, perennial mix will grow back every year and can be cut back as soon as it looks untidy

redseat1

Got a couple of small cherry tress in Lidl recently, and a number of bulbs, so will start the project with these anyway.

MacDanger

Heather or lavender maybe?

rje66

Gravel with some small rocks and plants works well in small areas,

few pics of bits I've done. Be careful not to block out light and choose plants with longer flower times...hope it works out for you. Post a few pics too.

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Reckless Abandonment

Thats a lovely use of that space

Love the use of rocks like that. Very nice

redseat1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120289615#Comment_120289615

So far just cleared out years of plastic and bottles, previous owner had some horrible wire mesh against the railings and ivy and some small stunted trees and briars had knitted into it. So cleared all away to expose railings, which will be painted. Put a small cherry tree on each side, think we'll leave grass grow back a bit now...