The Best Trees to Buy in the UK: Stores, Selection Tips, and Planting Advice

Why picking the right tree transforms your garden

Choosing a tree is like picking a long-term roommate for your garden — it needs to fit the space, personality, and future plans. A tree can add shade, privacy, wildlife value, seasonal colour, or even fruit for your kitchen, and it can do so for decades. Get the wrong one and you’ll be wrestling with roots, shade, or endless pruning; choose well and your outdoor space will feel complete, like the final brushstroke on a painting.

Top UK retailers where gardeners buy trees

If you’re hunting for trees in the UK, you’ll find options at both high-street chains and specialist nurseries. Big-box stores and garden centres often stock convenient choices, while online nurseries and local growers offer specialist varieties and larger rootballed specimens. Here are the kinds of retailers to check out:

B&Q

B&Q is a handy starting point for common garden trees and semi-mature specimens. They tend to carry a mix of potted trees perfect for planting straight away, and smaller standards for patios or small gardens. Prices are usually competitive, and you can often see stock in store before buying.

Homebase

Homebase regularly stocks a selection of garden trees, from small ornamental trees to taller specimens for hedging and screening. If convenience matters, Homebase is a good middle ground: a decent selection with the ability to click-and-collect from a local branch.

Dobbies

Dobbies is known for its garden-focused range and tends to offer a wider variety of ornamental and fruit trees than the typical general retailer. You can often find knowledgeable staff on hand to advise on planting and care, making it a good pick if you want to talk through options.

Thompson & Morgan

Thompson & Morgan is a specialist mail-order nursery with a strong reputation for unusual and fruiting varieties. If you’re looking for rare cultivars or a wider range of rootstock options, their catalogue is worth a browse — especially for fruit trees and ornamental trees that perform well in UK gardens.

Crocus and Primrose

Online garden retailers like Crocus and Primrose specialise in higher-end ornamentals and a broad selection of trees, including specimen and semi-mature options. Their websites are good for comparing varieties and viewing photos so you know what to expect when the tree arrives.

Gardening Express and Mr Plant

Gardening Express and Mr Plant are popular online nurseries offering wide selections at various sizes, from small pot-grown trees to larger standards. They are particularly useful for hedging and multi-buy discounts, so they suit landscapers and keen gardeners alike.

Hillier and Notcutts (specialist garden centres)

Established garden centres like Hillier and Notcutts supply high-quality trees and often stock semi-mature or advanced specimens. These retailers offer strong expert advice and a chance to inspect the tree in person before committing.

Which tree types are best for UK gardens?

Trees come in many shapes and temperaments. Before you buy, think about the role you want the tree to play: shade, blossom, autumn colour, fruit, or privacy. Here’s a breakdown of popular types and why gardeners choose them.

Small ornamental trees (ideal for tiny gardens)

For a small garden or courtyard, look at trees that stay compact — often under 15 ft at maturity. Examples include Amelanchier, Japanese maples, and many crab apples. They give dramatic blossom and autumn colour without overpowering a small space, functioning like a living sculpture rather than a forest.

Medium trees for structure and shade

Medium-sized trees that reach 20–40 ft are perfect for suburban gardens. Common choices include silver birch, rowan, and small oaks. They give vertical structure, dappled shade, and habitat for birds without dominating an average garden plot.

Large trees and statement specimens

If you have an acre or more, you can consider larger species that eventually reach 50 ft or more. Plane trees, beech, and larger oaks provide high canopy shade and long-term landscape impact. Remember: these are multi-generational choices and need the space and planning to thrive.

Fruit trees for small spaces

Fruit trees have become compact, with dwarf and spur-form varieties trained as standards, cordons, or espaliers. Apple, pear, cherry, and plum trees are widely available and can be grown against walls to save space while delivering a harvest. Think in terms of 6–12 ft for trained standards and even smaller for cordons.

Choosing the right size, root type and rootball

When buying a tree you’ll encounter different root types: pot-grown (container), rootballed, and bare-root. Each has benefits depending on when and how you plan to plant.

Potted/container-grown trees

Potted trees are available year-round, can be planted any time the soil isn’t frozen, and are great when you want immediate planting. Expect sizes from 2–5 ft for small tubs up to 8–12 ft for larger specimens. They’re convenient but may take longer to establish than bare-root stock.

Bare-root trees

Bare-root trees are lifted in the dormant season and sold without soil around their roots, usually between late autumn and early spring. They’re lighter, cheaper, and often establish quickly if planted correctly. They’re ideal for hedging and fruit trees but avoid them when the ground is frozen or waterlogged.

Rootballed and semi-mature trees

Rootballed trees are larger and are dug with a ball of soil around the roots, often wrapped for transport. These give instant impact, sometimes at heights of 8–15 ft, and are great when you want a mature look quickly. They do need careful handling and staking to help them settle.

Planting: timing, position and soil considerations

Planting is where most long-term success is won or lost. Get the basics right — timing, soil, and position — and your tree will reward you for years.

When to plant

In the UK the best time to plant trees is during dormancy: late autumn through early spring. That’s usually between November and March, when the tree is not actively growing and can focus on root establishment first. If you buy container-grown stock, you can plant in summer if you keep the rootzone moist.

Choosing the right spot

Look up and around: consider expected height and spread in feet and how much shade or shelter the spot gets. Avoid planting too close to buildings, drains, or boundaries — roots and canopy expansion need room. A good rule is to give a tree a radius roughly equal to half its expected mature spread.

Soil and drainage

Trees dislike being waterlogged. If your garden is heavy clay or poorly drained, consider raised beds or pick species tolerant of wet feet like silver birch or alder. Light, well-drained soils support the widest range of species. You can improve soil with compost, but avoid piling nutrient-rich material against the trunk.

Establishing your tree: watering, staking and mulching

After planting, the first two years are the make-or-break phase. Think of establishment as a gradual handover, where the gardener supports the tree until its roots take charge.

Watering routine

New trees need consistent moisture, especially in their first warm months. For a newly planted tree of 2–3 ft, a deep soak once a week will usually suffice in normal weather, more in drought. Larger specimens need more water per session. Use a slow-release method like a watering ring or soak hose to ensure water reaches the root zone.

Staking and protection

Staking helps upright newly planted tall specimens against wind and traffic, but don’t overdo it — too rigid a stake can prevent trunk movement and weaken the base. Use soft ties and allow some flex. Mulch with a 2–3 inch layer of organic material around the root area, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.

Maintenance: pruning, feeding and pest management

Trees generally don’t demand constant attention, but a seasonal check-in keeps them healthy and attractive. Light, timely maintenance saves you heavy work later.

When and how to prune

Prune most trees during late winter dormancy to shape, remove dead wood, and maintain structure. Fruit trees often need summer pruning too, after fruiting, to manage vigour. Always use clean, sharp tools and make cuts just outside the branch collar. Think “less is more” — severe pruning can stress a tree and encourage weak regrowth.

Feeding and mulching

Most trees do well with an annual mulch and only occasional feeding. For fruiting trees, a balanced fertiliser in spring can improve yields. Organic mulches conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and nurture soil life — the invisible workforce that keeps trees happy.

Fruit trees: choosing varieties that perform in the UK

Want to grow your own fruit? The UK has a great selection of apple, pear, cherry, and plum varieties suited to different microclimates. Decide whether you want espaliered fruit against a wall, a small standard for the lawn, or a cordon for space-saving productivity.

Pollination and rootstock choices

Many fruit trees require a pollination partner to set fruit, so check whether the variety is self-fertile or needs a compatible neighbour. Rootstock choices determine final size: dwarfing rootstocks produce trees as small as 6–8 ft high, while vigorous rootstocks can push a tree to 15–20 ft or more.

Using trees for privacy, screening and wildlife

Trees are brilliant at creating privacy screens, softening boundaries, and attracting wildlife. For instant screening, choose evergreen species or fast-growing conifers that reach 10–20 ft quickly. For wildlife, broadleaf trees that produce flowers, berries, and nesting opportunities are the champions.

Budgeting and buying smart: what to expect to pay

Prices vary widely depending on size, species, and retailer. Small potted trees might start from a few pounds for tiny specimens, while semi-mature, rootballed trees 8–12 ft high can run into hundreds. If you want a mature look fast, expect to pay more for larger rootballed specimens — but they give instant impact.

Seasonal sales and multi-buy deals

Watch for seasonal discounts in late winter and spring when nurseries clear stock. Buying multiple hedging plants or several fruit trees from the same nursery can often unlock discounts. Shopping early and comparing retailers will stretch your budget further.

Sustainability and choosing native species

Native trees support the greatest diversity of local wildlife and typically need less fuss once established. Species like oak, field maple, and hawthorn are classic choices. If biodiversity is a priority, mix native trees with a few exotic ornamentals for year-round interest.

Wrapping up: matching choice to garden and lifestyle

Buying a tree is both an emotional and practical decision. Think about size, root type, and the role you want the tree to play. Visit a few of the retailers listed above, check varieties, and don’t be shy about asking questions. With a little planning, you’ll plant something that grows into a defining feature of your garden for years to come.

Conclusion: Trees are a major investment in your outdoor space, but with the right retailer, the appropriate species, and careful planting, they reward your patience with shade, spring blossom, autumn colour, and even fruit. Whether you pick a compact Japanese maple for a courtyard or a semi-mature oak for the back lawn, plan carefully, buy from reputable UK retailers or specialist nurseries, and enjoy the slow, satisfying magic of a tree taking root.