THE 3 TYPES OF SMALL TREES AND WHY WE LOVE THEM
Adding a small tree to your yard can completely transform the landscape, adding so much beauty, color, and property value! There are so many visually stunning options to choose from, but there are also some key differences to remember when selecting your trees. There are three main types of small trees that we recommend for Indianapolis gardens—let’s break down the basics so you can find the perfect variety to match your home’s aesthetic.
Small Ornamental Trees
These are your standard small-sized trees with maximum visual impact. We particularly love Japanese Maples—they have such spectacular autumn colors, brightening up the scenery with vibrant red, orange, gold, and purple tones. Depending on your chosen variety, they can reach anywhere from 6 to 30 feet, with little to no pruning necessary. Some small Japanese Maples can also be grown in containers—they “self stunt,” meaning they will remain small if their roots are more confined.
Some of our favorite Japanese Maple varieties include:
Small Weeping Trees
If you want to add an air of drama and romance to the landscape, you’ll absolutely love weeping trees. Their branches and foliage grow downward, cascading like a fountain. Blooming varieties like the Weeping Flowering Cherry are especially stunning—they only reach 8–15 feet tall, so they’re perfect for bringing major visual impact to smaller spaces.
Some other noteworthy weeping trees include:
Some Japanese Maples are also weeping varieties, so if you love the vibrant colors and fascinating lobed leaves of the maple but want that dramatic downward-growing foliage, we have several varieties to explore.
Small Grafted Trees
A grafted tree is created when the rootstock of one tree is grafted onto the crown of another tree or flowering shrub, creating a hybrid that combines the best features of both. Grafted lilacs and hydrangeas are especially popular—instead of remaining as a low-growing shrub, they have a tall, slender tree trunk and strong root system. Their colossal blooms and distinctive shape are nothing short of spectacular, drawing so much attention while elevated off the ground. By raising them to eye level, it’s impossible to ignore their show-stopping beauty and fragrant blooms.
Grafted evergreens are quite distinctive as well—instead of having a pointed shape like a standard evergreen tree, they have a rounded crown like a shrub that sits atop their trunk, kind of like a needled topiary.
Some of our most popular grafted trees include:
Transplanting Your Small Tree
Find a spot with plenty of sunshine, so the leaves of your new sapling will be as vibrant as possible. Ensure the soil is rich with nutrients and well-draining. Take a look at our tree planting tutorial for a step-by-step guide on getting your sapling established nicely in its first year.
While you can technically transplant a sapling any time the soil isn’t totally frozen, we find people have the best results if they plant in early fall. This way, it won’t get stressed out from high summer temperatures, but it also gets some time to settle in before the cold hits. Plus, your tree will mostly be dormant in fall, but its roots will still spread, so it can devote more energy to growing its roots; in spring, it will already be expending energy on sprouting leaves and blossoms.
When you plant a new sapling, always remember to water generously and frequently; this is essential for helping those roots spread. Applying a thick layer of mulch across the soil surface will help slow down the evaporation of moisture, keeping the roots hydrated for longer. This is why it’s so important to be sure the soil drains well and isn’t compacted—if the water is pooling and remaining stagnant, it can encourage root rot, which you’ll want to avoid at all costs!
If you need help choosing the perfect small tree in Indianapolis to suit your unique space and style, you’re more than welcome to pop into Dammann’s Garden Co., and we can provide some recommendations! We’ll be happy to provide you with all the necessary care and planting instructions to get your sapling off to a terrific start.