Compact Urban Forest Garden (Rees-Style) — FarmPal

A space-efficient forest garden design for small plots (as little as 30x30 ft), inspired by intensive UK forest garden methodology. Emphasizes maximum species diversity in minimal space through careful vertical stacking, dwarfing rootstocks, and multi-season harvest planning. Every square foot serves a purpose.

Central Tree

Dwarf Apple or Plum

Spacing

30-40 feet (entire garden)

Establishment

2-4 years to significant harvest

Guild Layers

Canopy

Dwarf Apple (M26 rootstock, 10-12ft), Damson Plum, Medlar (compact, shade-tolerant)

Understory

Cornel Cherry (Cornus mas early spring fruit), Dwarf Pear, Japanese Quince (Chaenomeles)

Shrub

Jostaberry (currant × gooseberry hybrid), Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea), Japanese Wineberry, Goji Berry (on north edge as windbreak)

Herbaceous

Welsh Onion (perennial), Turkish Rocket (perennial brassica), Sorrel, Good King Henry, Salad Burnet, Sweet Cicely

Groundcover

Alpine Strawberry (shade-tolerant), White Clover, Bugle (Ajuga shade groundcover), Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum)

Vine

Grape (compact trained on wall/fence), Kiwi Berry (Actinidia arguta, on arch)

Root

Oca (Oxalis tuberosa), Mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum), Earth Chestnut (Bunium bulbocastanum)

Benefits

•Fits in suburban backyards and urban allotments (30x30 ft minimum)
•Over 30 species in under 1,000 sq ft extreme diversity
•Harvest window spans February (cornel cherry) through November (medlar, quince)
•Dwarfing rootstocks keep canopy at manageable 10-15 ft height
•Many species tolerate partial shade ideal for walled or fenced gardens
•Honeyberry and cornel cherry fruit in early spring when nothing else produces
•Alpine strawberries thrive in the shade of fruit trees
•Perennial vegetables eliminate annual replanting labor