United Kingdom 
I would like to have a small tree in my garden. My garden is: prone to being very windy (we are next to an open field), has sun all day, and I am in a coastal region (Margate).
I would like a tree that looks good all year (is that possible?). It's position would be in the corner of the garden so doesn't need to be too wide or too tall.
2 Apr, 2017
Answers
Thank you for your advice. Conifers I'm not that keen on. I have had my thinking cap on and I think I may opt for very tall grasses (the taller the better and the movement in the wind would be nice to just sit and watch). Any advice on what grass would be best. I'm quite away from the sea, next to an agricultural field and the wind is quite ferocious sometimes as it's so open.
2 Apr, 2017
Taller grasses disappear in winter in the UK, or are annuals.You could consider one of the bamboos though, which are pretty grass like really - they rustle and wave in the wind too, and they retain their leaves in winter. Phyllostachys aureus or nigrescens get to about 13 feet, BUT will need a root rhizome barrier to prevent spreading throughout the garden over time. P. aureus has yellow stems, P. nigrescens has black. Fargesia varieties of bamboo don't need rhizome barriers, they form clumps, so if you can find one of those you like, that's worth considering. Bear in mind most of the Fargesias, once they get tall, tend to cascade over at the top, not down to the ground, but almost forming a tree like crown effect.
2 Apr, 2017
Hmmm so something to ponder over. Thank you for your very helpful advice.
4 Apr, 2017
Previous question
« Hi All, Last month I bought some trays of Pansies and planted them into my hanging...
Next question
It would be helpful if you could upload a photo of the area you want to plant this tree so we can get an idea of size. As for 'looking good all year', if you mean green, then that's a conifer. Deciduous small trees might have flowers in spring, foliage during summer and if you've enough room, good colour change in autumn, but you've still got 5 months of bare branches, so can you clarify please? Also, how close to the sea are you (wondering about salt laden breezes)?
I'm also wondering whether its the height you want rather than something bushy to fill that corner - many shrubs reach up to 10 feet and choosing from shrubs widens the choice available for something that looks good year round, but they obviously take up more room side to side, so knowing the rough size of the planting area , and whether its hemmed in by fences, is critical. There are small deciduous trees - Amelanchier lamarkii is a good multi stemmed tree, but it gets 33 feet, so an idea of what height you're after would also be helpful.
2 Apr, 2017