First, have a look around your neighborhood. Which trees seem healthy? Do any drop copious amounts of leaves? These could be a slippery hazard in damp weather (or do they drop quickly and cleanly to make a golden carpet like the beauteous Ginkgo Biloba?)
Next, do a little research in the Sunset Western Garden book. What will be the mature height and width of the canopy? Will there be utility wires above the young tree?
It will be easier and less costly to choose a small to medium tree, instead of paying someone to constantly prune a large tree to fit the space. Pittosporum crassifolia/eugenioides are lovely for screening or framing a view.
Fruit trees are grown nowadays on dwarf, semi-dwarf and even ultra-dwarf root stock, making them perfect for the city garden. Apples, plums, pears and lemon trees do very well in coastal gardens. For those in the warmer areas, peaches, nectarines and apricots are available. Think of it, fresh organic fruit, straight from the tree to your table.
If you are planting in a lawn choose a tree that can tolerate regular water (Citrus, Cornus “Redtwig”, Acer palmatum). Expect the lawn to be thinner under the shade of the tree. Leave a circle around the root collar of the tree unplanted, to avoid injuring the roots from needless digging in the root zone. This will also prevent trunk injury from weed-whackers and runaway mowers. Remember the Feeder Roots live in the first six inches below the soil surface. These provide the major portion of the absorption surface of a tree’s root system. They compete directly with the roots of grass and other ground covers. If the idea of bare space offends you, place a few pots of flowers/colorful foliage in the circle.
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