If you enjoy seeing the changing seasons reflected in the changing colours of your garden, but only have a small yard, ornamental trees can be a great option. Here are some ideas of trees that you can try planting in a small yard that will give you that lovely colour display.
Coral bark maple
Maples are a popular choice for ornamental trees due to their very colourful leaf changes. Coral bark maple is a great choice for small yards with a gentle coral bark and soft green leaves in summer that turn orange in autumn. It is generally a very hardy plant which suits a range of soils. Maples can become stressed in a very hot position in summer, so are best suited to a position in partial shade. It has a slow growth rate so is great for small yards.
Betula birch
Betula has a beautiful stark white beech that peels in autumn. This can be a great highlight to bring out the shades of the nearby colourful leaves. It has beautiful green leaves in summer which turn yellow in autumn. It is very popular in Australian yards as it is very heat and drought tolerant, which makes in well suited to warm Australian climates. It can grow up to 10m tall, which makes it on the larger end of ornamental trees, but the height can be controlled by regular pruning and cutting. (However, the height can also be a great benefit if you are looking to grow ornamental trees to help provide some privacy to your yards.
Pyrus ornamental pears
Pyrus pear trees have a lustrous green leaf which turns purple into autumn and winter. They produce small but inedible red-brown pears. The trees grow extremely straight and have a narrow width, which makes them great for small spaces as well as again being useful to enhance privacy in courtyards and small spaces. They are very popular in Australian yards as they can adapt to a range of soils and grow well in full sun, making them a great option for sunny yards that need some summer shading.
If you would like some advice on which kinds of ornamental trees might work best in your area it's a good idea to ask a local nursery for advice. They can often give specific advice on which kinds of plants thrive in the local soils and can give great advice on soil conditioning and fertilising.
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