Planting in the garden
Plants will provide changing colours, shapes and character to your garden throughout the year.
Planting trees and shrubs
Trees and shrubs provide height, so give an extra dimension to your garden. With careful selection they can also provide colour for seasonal interest throughout the year whether with flowers, fruit, autumn leaves or winter silhouettes.
Select the right size and number of trees to fit with the size of your garden, bearing in mind the mature height and spread. Look to have one or two trees in a small to medium garden. Too many trees or potentially large trees may outgrow their space.
Which trees and shrubs are best for my garden?
Take a look at the RHS' comprehensive guide to looking after garden trees and shrubs and see their list of suitable plants for different locations. These links will take to the RHS website.
In Seaside/coastal areas
- Strawberry tree (Arbutus)
- Hawthorn (Crataegus)
- Whitebeam (Sorbus aria)
- Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
- Cordyline
- Cotoneaster
- Euonymus
- Fuchsia
- Hebe
- Helianthemum
- Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
- Lavender
- Olearia
- Phlomis
- Santolina
- Tamarisk
For Industrial/built-up areas
- Barberry (Berberis)
- Sun rose (Cistus)
- Smoke tree (Cotinus)
- Mock orange (Philadelphus)
- Potentilla
- Flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum)
- Weigela
- Maple (Acer)
- Tree of heaven (Ailanthus)
- Laburnum
- Ornamental apple (Malus)
- Ornamental cherry (Prunus)
- Ornamental pear (Pyrus)
- Willow (Salix)