New Build Gardens are usually smaller and lacking in greenery and privacy. Here we have explored our top choices favourite trees for new build gardens, each of these suggestions will bring life to a new garden and add seasonal/year-round screening. For more evergreen suggestions, please explore our Top 10 Screening Trees article!

1. Photinia Red Robin

An excellent choice for screening, Photinia Red Robin is one of our favourite candidates for new build gardens owing to its shallow root system, low maintenance and hardy nature. With striking red new growth, that contrasts the older green foliage, and clusters of white flowers in spring, Photinia Red Robin has an attractive appearance that will add seasonal interest to your garden.

2. Prunus laurocerasus (Cherry laurel)

Cherry laurel is an evergreen variety with a dense growth habit and fast growth rate, this makes it an excellent choice for screening unsightly views and providing year-round privacy. With large glossy green leaves, racemes of white flowers in spring and cherry-like fruits in autumn, this tree will also provide new build gardens with year-round interest.

2. Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese laurel)

Portuguese laurel is another evergreen candidate for new build or smaller gardens. Often used for screening, this tree also makes an excellent standalone tree as it has a moderate growth rate and holds onto its shape quite well without trimming. With narrow, dark green leaves, that emerge from purple tinted young stems. Portuguese laurel also has clusters of white flowers that emerge in spring and small purple fruits in autumn.

3. Pleached trees

Pleached trees are an excellent choice for new build gardens, especially when screening is the goal. Their ability to create a screen above the fence line while efficiently utilising space makes them particularly effective. Most of our pleached trees feature a 1.8m clear stem with a framework on top. Training foliage to this framework provides instant coverage, adding privacy and beauty to any garden.

4. 1/2 Standards

Half standard trees can be planted in any garden to add height, interest and dimension, but their mature height makes them an excellent choice for smaller new build gardens. Typically reaching a mature height of up to 3m, half standard trees can be kept neat and small by clipping and shaping, or they can be left to grow out to create a larger sphere or attractive small tree.

5. Cupressus sempervirens ‘Pyramidalis’ (Italian cypress)

Cupressus sempervirens is an evergreen conifer with a very narrow, columnar habit and slow growth rate. It has a mature spread of around 3m and could reach a mature height of 15m, but 5m tall much more realistic. If you want a tall, narrow, low maintenance tree for your new build garden, Italian cypress may be the one for you.

6. Cupressocyparis leylandii ‘Castlewellan Gold’ – Pom-Pom and Spirals

Here the flat sprays of scalelike foliage have been beautifully trimmed into spiral and pom-pom shapes in order to create an unusual architectural feature. With a mature height and spread that is controlled by trimming, these trees can be kept at a desired size. Often used for ornamental purposes, the ‘Castlewellan Gold’ leylandii can also add interest with its light green foliage that develops a yellow and gold tinge throughout the spring and summer months!

7. Japanese maple

Japanese maple are a great choice for new build gardens owing to their moderate, compact size and slow growth rate. These plants are also renowned for their beautiful leaf shapes and vibrant foliage, so planting would add beauty and interest to a blank canvas!

7. Magnolia ‘Stellata’

Often grown as a small, multi-stem tree, Magnolia ‘Stellata’ is a deciduous shrub with a dense, spreading habit. A popular choice for smaller gardens, this shrub will enhance new build gardens with its silky buds and delicate, star-shaped white flowers.

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