Middle of the lawn rule for trees?

Mark497

Planting a tree in the centre of your lawn is absolutely fine if you like the look of it! The advice against it is usually for aesthetic balance or to avoid a "lonely tree" effect, but if it fits your vision, go for it.

Since you plan to keep it pruned, choose a tree with a manageable root system and growth habit. Something with a nice shape, like an ornamental tree or a small flowering variety, could work beautifully. Just ensure it won’t block too much sunlight if you want to maintain a healthy lawn underneath.

Ultimately, it’s your space—if a centred tree feels right to you, make it happen! 🌳😊

Sapindus

Planting in the centre will give a formal, static effect.  Planting off to one side will look more informal.  You could put the tree in its pot in several places until you decide where it looks best.

I would advise very strongly against thinking you can keep a tree in check by pruning.  Inevitably you will just be making work for "tree surgeons", many of whom are complete cowboys and I wouldn't let them near any tree of mine.  I see so many butchered trees which have grown too big so have been given a buzz cut back to the size the owner wanted.  They react by growing multiple shoots on the end of each cut branch, and within a couple of years are back to the same size but twice as dense.

It is possible to prune a tree carefully so it doesn't overreact but you can never make the canopy quite as small as you want, it will be less dense though. 

Dustyevsky

Isn't the tree planted by now? This thread's nearly a year old!

Maybe the OP is still wondering what tree will be easy to keep on the small side, so I'll suggest a named variety of crab apple, like Evereste,Jelly King, Aros, or Scarlett.