The web address of the Gardening board has now been changed from https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/greenfingered-moneysaving to https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/gardening so that it is in line with the board's current name. Don't worry though, the old address will still redirect you here, but it's worth updating it in your saved links or browser favourites.
We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

Middle of the lawn rule for trees?

Frank99
Frank99 Posts: 622 Forumite
Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
We have a very open front lawn which i would love to make a bit more disguised with a tree in the middle however when i look this up online the message seems to be don't plant a tree in the centre of the lawn.
I feel it will look odd if planted to one side!
Is it okay to plant in the middle, i'm planning to keep it under control with pruning when it gets to the desired size. 
Enjoy everyday like it's your last!

Comments

  • mebu60
    mebu60 Posts: 1,400 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Can't think why you wouldn't plant it in the centre. Better there than in a border overhanging someone else's boundary. Offset from the centre would be no good for those of us with OCD tendencies!

    I say go for it, dead centre. Get as mature a tree as you can afford. A grass free mulched circular zone around it can look smart too. 
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,685 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    It is challenging to have pristine green lawn right up to the the trunk of a tree - you may have bare spots (some trees, including walnut, repress the grass around the trunk) or roots which are on the surface and don't want to be mowed.  But with either a grass free ring around the trunk or a more as-it-comes sort of lawn I think it works well. 
    Only challenge is if you like trees and have taken the one centre spot where do you put the next ones?
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • fatbelly
    fatbelly Posts: 22,139 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Cashback Cashier
    edited 22 March 2024 at 7:04PM
    It's your lawn. Do what you want. I would suggest that you choose a tree of appropriate final size, rather than rely on pruning.

    I visit a place with a spectacular magnolia right in the centre of a lawn. The downside is that the grass does not grow well near the trunk. I am trying to get some bulbs going


  • ArbitraryRandom
    ArbitraryRandom Posts: 2,718 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Homepage Hero Name Dropper
    edited 22 March 2024 at 8:54PM
    Assuming no covenants or bylaws, it depends on how much you care about the opinions of others - you could have a yellow house with neon green door if you wanted to...

    The only things I'd want to check is where drainage/water runs (check where the water tap is in the house/street and the drains are probably a direct line from your main waste pipe to road) and that the 'middle' of the lawn is at least 10m away from the house (or check your insurance for the distance you need to declare).

    Mine are towards the edges (about 1.5m from the boundary, which should be about half the size of the canopy for the rootstock) as it meant I could have more ;)   
    I'm not an early bird or a night owl; I’m some form of permanently exhausted pigeon.
  • KajiKita
    KajiKita Posts: 6,236 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 23 March 2024 at 7:19AM
    Have a look at the RHS website for small trees for gardens. I have just planted a single stemmed Amalanchier. As for where, I’m going to buck the common view here and say plant it where it will give you the screening effect you want - if that’s dead centre, so be it. If not 🤷‍♀️ just visually anchor it with some shrubs near to it. 

    When it comes to planting trees or other woody things, the mycorrhizal fungi you can get in the garden centre in pelleted form added to the roots when planting, make a big difference especially if planting in relatively uncultivated or stale soil. And one full can of water a week to the roots right through its first growing season 😊

    KK
    As at 15.01.25:
    - When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £244,153
    - OPs to mortgage = £9,694 Interest saved £4,182 to date
    Fixed rate 3.85% ends November 2029

    Read 4 books of target 52 in 2025, as @ 7th February
    Produce tracker: £11 of £300 in 2025

    Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
    Watch your words, they become your actions. 
    Watch your actions, they become your reality. 
  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 6,826 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Sounds lovely!
    If you don't want a raggedy lawn under then use block pavers, cobbles, etc in a decorative circle around it. Bulbs will grow theough them if the foliage isnt too dense.

    My greatly missed gardening neighbour often said, buy the tree you want and prune to size.

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

    viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on

    The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well


  • jackieblack
    jackieblack Posts: 10,419 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 23 March 2024 at 7:10AM
    You should check that the roots of whatever tree you choose won’t spread to, and damage, the foundations of the house - roots can extend to double the height of the tree, depending on the species.  You should also check for any pipes/drainage running under the lawn or close by.
    2.22kWp Solar PV system installed Oct 2010, Fronius IG20 Inverter, south facing (-5 deg), 30 degree pitch, no shading
    Everything will be alright in the end so, if it’s not yet alright, it means it’s not yet the end
    MFW #4 OPs: 2018 £866.89, 2019 £1322.33, 2020 £1337.07
    2021 £1250.00, 2022 £1500.00, 2023 £1500, 2024 £1350
    2025 target = £1200, YTD £115
    Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur
  • Frank99 said:
    We have a very open front lawn which i would love to make a bit more disguised with a tree in the middle however when i look this up online the message seems to be don't plant a tree in the centre of the lawn.
    I feel it will look odd if planted to one side!
    Is it okay to plant in the middle, i'm planning to keep it under control with pruning when it gets to the desired size. 
    You can create a feature big pot with multi-plants in it if tree is not allowed. Have seen people who don't plant tree in their front lawn, we planted one, and then two neighbours did as well. No problem with us ... here is an example of a feature in our front yard .. a tree is this same area ...


    or you can do something like this, this is located in our backyard but can be done in the front too ..

    "My gardening illustrates my artistic passion with plants" - GreenBucket24
  • If I was going to plant a tree in the middle of the lawn I'd make sure it had a good metre wide soil bed around it with some nice metal edging. That way the lawn will be easier to cut and the tree will have space ad it matures. It will also look neat as a bonus. I;d also make sure th eedging is lower than the grass itself as that too makes it easier to mow in my experience. Some edging ideas here too https://www.relentlessgardener.co.uk/edging-a-lawn/
  • Frank99 said:
    We have a very open front lawn which i would love to make a bit more disguised with a tree in the middle however when i look this up online the message seems to be don't plant a tree in the centre of the lawn.
    I feel it will look odd if planted to one side!
    Is it okay to plant in the middle, i'm planning to keep it under control with pruning when it gets to the desired size. 
    You can create a feature big pot with multi-plants in it if tree is not allowed. Have seen people who don't plant tree in their front lawn, we planted one, and then two neighbours did as well. No problem with us ... here is an example of a feature in our front yard .. a tree is this same area ...


    or you can do something like this, this is located in our backyard but can be done in the front too ..

    Lovely flower bed 😍
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.6K Life & Family
  • 254K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.