The only feasible temperature-changing solution (besides moving!) for my backyard was a tree. Easier said then done. I have a small backyard (20 by 30 ft). I needed a small well behaved tree less than 25 ft (about 7 1/2 meters), provide summer shade, but also allow the winter rays to warm the house in winter. In other words, I needed a small deciduous tree.

With a sense of urgency, I threw my usual caution to the wind and rushed off to the nursery to buy a small fast-growing deciduous tree. Wandering through the nursery I was struck the fresh green leaves and the lovely long white blooms of the Shubert chokecherry (Prunus virginiana ‘Schubert’). The tag promised a tantalizing transformation: the young green leaves magically changed into purple as the season progressed. Great! Purple would offset my grey fence beautifully. I bought it on the spot.

Situating the tree was critical. I wanted the tree to shade the large living room windows for most of the day, and the patio from mid-afternoon on. Not wanting to relocate the chokecherry, I traced the tree’s shadow throughout the day. The next day I tracked and recorded the tree’s shadow in another location in the garden, and so on for a couple more days. I was careful. Very careful. I found just the right spot…

Immediately after planting, the chokecherry put on an impressive growth spurt. I was in heaven. It was a short-lived visit. When the leaves started to turn from green to purple, I went into shock. The purple foliage clashed horribly with the grey fence, and it made the yard feel hotter with its reddish purple leaves. Damn! It’s exasperating that garden designers don’t have the same colour matching tools as interior decorators.

The following year, the chokecherry grew its heart out, happily waving its branches around. I was torn between the chokecherry’s impressive growth spurt versus its dismal colour clash with the fence. I had to make a decision.

In early September, when the hardscaping started in my backyard, the chokecherry found a new home in a neighbour’s yard. I even volunteered to water it every day until it became established.

I moved an innocuous serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’) into the vacant spot. Beautiful green leaves, delicious berries…wait… it’s starting to sucker.

Next blog in the beginning garden series: finding the right layout for the backyard.

Schubert Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana ‘Schubert’

Size: 20 to 30 feet tall, 18 to 25 ft wide

Zones: 2 – 6

Serviceberry

Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brillance’

Size: 15 to 25 feet tall (similar width)

Zones: 4 – 9