The best gardens are the ones where every tree pulls its weight. Privacy and shade. Flowers and habitat. Structure and food. Get the tree mix right and a 200 square metre garden can deliver more than a hectare of single-purpose planting.
Start with the structure
Evergreens give the bones. A Ficus Hillii hedge along the back boundary creates a natural fenceline and screens out the neighbours in one move. The same tree gives shade to the western side of the house if you align it well.
Multi-functional trees are workhorses. One tree, three or four jobs. That is what to look for when space is tight.
Layer in the seasons
Deciduous trees add the changes. Crepe Myrtle Natchez gives summer flowers, autumn colour and winter bark, all in one tree. Plant it in front of the evergreen backdrop so each job is visible.
An Olive does triple duty: shade, evergreen structure and edible fruit. A Magnolia gives evergreen structure and showy summer flowers. Both work in a garden that wants to look polished and earn its keep.
Add wildlife and food
Australian natives bring birds, pollinators and habitat. Banksia integrifolia flowers through winter when little else does, feeding honeyeaters and giving silver-green structure year round. A single tree adds a whole new dimension to the garden.
For food, olives, citrus and bay double as edible features. They look polished, taste good and cost nothing once established.
Plan the relationships
Tall evergreens behind, deciduous features in front, low natives or productive trees at the edges. This gives layered planting that reads well from the house and from inside the garden.
Think about sun and shade through the year. Deciduous trees shade in summer and let winter sun through. Evergreens block wind and sightlines all year. The right combination gives a comfortable microclimate.
Care basics
Plant in autumn or spring, and summer planting is great with morning and evening watering for the first two weeks. Water deeply through the first two summers. Mulch heavily. Match each tree to the soil and aspect it prefers for the strongest start, and every tree pays back the right placement many times over.
Frequently asked questions
How many trees fit in a small garden?
A 200 square metre courtyard can take one feature tree, a five to ten metre hedge and one or two understorey trees. Layer rather than crowd.
Should evergreens or deciduous go in first?
Always evergreens for structure. Drop deciduous features in once the bones are set.
How do I add wildlife value to a polished garden?
A single Banksia or Grevillea near a back corner adds wildlife without compromising the formal look out front.
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