The Best Small Trees for Tiny Yards

ByStaff|onMarch 28, 2023

This week, Ken Lain The Mountain Gardener of Watters Garden Center in Prescott tells us about the best small trees for tiny yards. Learn about 11 of the best trees for small yards, how to landscape dwarf trees, dwarf trees and shrubs under 10ft tall, some fast-growing small trees, dwarf trees under 15ft tall, small trees for modern lawns, and more!

We don't all have room for a mighty Maple or the outstretched branches of a native Sycamore in our backyard. With this article, you have the fantastic few that outshine the rest in today's modern yard. Whether you are looking for shade or springs bright colors in your yard, these trees mature below 25 feet and require minimal maintenance to look great. Here are small trees ideal for spring landscapes in tight spaces. Popular links provide deeper learning or buy online.

Insider Tip: If you have a small yard, focus on vertical space—select plants with an upright growing habit. Focus on raised beds and containers to maximize your ground space. 8 Colorful Plants for Hanging Baskets.

Alberta Spruce (Picea Glauca) – Watters Garden Center has many evergreens that make stunning specimen in the yard, but this is #1. The needles are very dense, and it retains a perfect pyramidal shape without pruning. Growing only 3″ inches per year, this slow grower is ideally grown in containers and raised garden beds.

Chaste Tree (Vitex) grows more like a giant, multi-trunk shrub than a tree, but super easy to grow up to 15′ feet tall. The long clusters of fragrant blue flowers make the tree enticing for both people and butterflies. It is often compared to the butterfly bush but blooms later and repeats bloom if you deadhead it (remove spent flowers).

Crabapple (Malus) – even the most minuscule yards have room for a crabapple tree. Crabapples typically top at maturity around 12-15′ feet tall. They provide a month of spring flowers that attract native pollinators, including honeybees. Dangling clusters of fruit follow the flowers that are popular with local birds.

Eastern Redbud (Cercis) burst into flower in early spring. You will find dozens of varieties here at Watters Garden Center, with most flowers in hot pink more than red. Popular with early butterflies, the Eastern Redbud averages 15-20′ feet in height.

Golden Chain Tree (Laburnum) has a distinctive green bark. The clover-like leaves allow the dappled sun to break through, but the long clusters of brilliant yellow flowers make this tree a show-stopper. This tree blooms in late spring and grows 15-20′ feet tall.

Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum) are beloved for their delicate leaves, to the point of being fringed. Green and red leaf varieties turn into eye-catching shades of red, orange, and purple in the fall. Their average mature height is 15′ feet and prefers the shady spots in the Arizona landscape. Order online at Monrovia.com, and order early for the best selection.

Mimosa (Albizia) has a tropical appearance with sweeping, fern-like leaves. Silk tassel tree is the common name for the fast grower for the fragrance and thread-like flowers. Hummingbirds and Monarch butterflies fall in love with this 20′ tree every time.

Paper Bark Birch (Betula) grows in multi-trunk clumps like aspen. The name comes from the paper white bark that flakes and peels from the trunk as an added attraction. Old trees reach 40 feet tall, but they have a narrow spread at their base, and their canopy allows dappled sunlight to pass through into small yards.

Saucer Magnolia – the fragrant purple-to-white flowers appear before the leaves unfurl in spring. The flowers are 10 inches across, thusly named ‘saucer.’ Saucer magnolias need initial shaping at first planting but never grow over 20′ feet tall.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier) is an early spring bloomer in white related to the rose family of plants. Like crabapples and rose hips, the fruits are edible but tart and popular with birds. Watters offers several varieties of serviceberry that make excellent landscape plants no more than 20′ tall.

Weeping Cherry (Prunus) are covered in flowers from their crown to the tips brushing the ground. These spring bloomers look best when given a prominent spot they can truly show off. Pruning typically isn't necessary.

Join the garden for fun! Free garden classes are offered every Saturday from 9:30 to 11 at Watters Garden Center where we go deep into growing better. Check out this spring schedule posted at: WattersGardenCenter.com and look for the ‘Garden Class’ link. You can also visit the garden center for a program.

April 1 at 9:30 am – Growing Better Peonies this Spring

April 7 at 3:00 pm – Lilacs and Better Fragrant Gardens

April 14 at 3:00 pm – My First Herb and Vegetable Gardens

April 21 at 3:00 pm – New Flower Introductions for 2023

2023 March/April Garden Class Schedule

Until next week, I’ll be helping gardeners grow better here at Watters Garden Center.

This article was written by Ken Lain. He can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Plants.com.

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