Small tree for front garden

Hi 

I have very little gardening experience. My front garden is covered in slate and we want to turf it and put a medium to small tree in the centre. It has full sun and I think clay soil. I would like a tree with a good shape  ( preferably round) and one that is very hardy. Ideas please.

What about Amalanchier http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=116 or a crab apple?

 With crab apples you can choose light or dark pink blossom or for the autumn fruits, from yellow to pink or red. Above is a crab apple.

I will second Amalanchier as it is a light tree. I have 3 now as I was so impressed with the first.

A Japanese Cherry tree is another option - various varities to choose from.

Japanese maples are also suitable front garden trees as are some varities of Sambucus.

I have amalanchier on my 'list' , They have bloosom, berries for birds and amazing autumn colour but recently have added a Cercis Forest Pansy to the list- if you google it it looks fantastic for colour and interest and is small.

I am glad you are going to turf your front garden ,so many gardens are dull with gravel or brick.I have seen here in a small front garden a grass lawn with a circle bed with a variegated holly with berries and small flower borders surrounding .It looks lovely and refreshing,the holly is cut in a ball shape.

I would choose Amelanchier ,too

Pam LL x

Three years ago I planted a small magnolia stellata in my front garden.    It faces due north, and is subject to strong north winds, but the magnolia has flowered beautifully each year since.     I believe they only grow to about three metres, but if it eventually outgrows the garden, I will be long gone!

 how about an acer maybe a weeping type with the red leaves sorry dont know the name we had it in our old front garden which was sunny. we moved it to our new garden but it was too shady so i have had to move it to our back sunny garden.. it looked so pretty and was not to big near to the house

Hi all. just started landscaping my front garden which still looked like a building site. I am looking for a small tree or large bush for a focal point that does not mind shade. It gets couple of hours sun in the morning before sun goes behind the house and then catches it again in late aftrenoon. we are quite exposed being near top of mountain so got to be hardy. something that has summer flowers would be nice or verigated to try to brighten the house up. ground is now quite good as i have put raised bed in with plenty of horse condiments. Any ideas please