Well, I think we've all done that one!

Some helpful planning hints. Take your pot of plant.Set it where you want it. Now pace the area where it will eventually be... Uh, boy. Then you can decide if it will fit, or if it goes back...

Also some planning hints, the tags have the average size for a zone 5/6 growth size. We all know EVERYTHING gets bigger in Texas (and in Georgia) if it likes heat and humidity...if it doesn't you can plan for it to shrink (and eventually disappear)... if your own garden is an "ideal" climate for the items you purchase, expect that it could get a bit bigger.
You purchased a landscape tree, which is commonly the only tree in the middle of a grass yard. That is something to consider. I bought some red buds. They work as a landscape tree of course, but they also work fairly well in a garden setting. Don't get too large, don't get too much canopy. Can send out volunteers! (and probably will) plus now they come in a variety of sizes...even a dwarf.

So there is something to think about.

In general when I am planning I do the research first. I love my google!! Small garden trees, trees for small yards, small canopy trees, narrow trees, fatigate trees etc. all these would give you a tree with a small canopy for a garden. Then you can look up the selections they offer on various different websites to see what they say (because no two say the same thing, lol). Then I make a list of possibilities for size, bloom time, color, fall color, if they will re-seed too much, are "dirty" and drop fruit when I don't want them too, feed birds etc. etc....and take that list of desired plants to the nursery and get one they have. I always hope they'll have more than one choice, but often not.

Then again, there are always those impulse purchases....

I did the same exact thing with the same exact tree. I planted one on each corner of my front garden. Two years later I went on a garden tour and saw an enormous one! Realized it would quickly outgrow it's spot, so I transplanted them to the side garden. Neither one survived the transplant so it was a big loss of money and a loss of 2 beautiful trees.

If you are going to be in your house 5 years or less, leave it there and you will enjoy it. If you will be there longer than that, move it now before it gets larger and established.

Been there, done that, killed 2 beautiful trees.

I bought a Thundercloud Plum. The label told me it should reach a mature size of 15' x 20'. This year it was already 15' tall being in the ground only a year. It got moved last week. I'm hoping it will survive the transplant. It hasn't looked too happy, but we're having lots of rain today and tomorrow. I guess we'll see. I think we all do this at some point.

I have a spot on the west side of my house that is HOT, HOT, HOT - and sunny!

So - I planted 3 crab apples. And lots of sun loving plants. Now the 3 (couldn't do with just one!) trees are beginning to shade out all those sun loving plants. I have some roses planted there that are long and spindly - reaching for some sun!

Not sure whether I should try to trim up the trees (don't want to ruin them), or tell DH that we need to redo that bed AGAIN! :O (sun plants to shade ones) He won't be happy!

Lol! This seems to be a theme with weeping cherry trees! I did the same thing a year or so ago (except I did know that the tree was going to get large). It was on sale at Lowes and I just couldn't resist. I brought it home, propped it up in the front yard and stood back. I said to myself "WHAT the heck was I thinking??!" I have a lot of trees that need regular pruning (under power lines). Why did I get another large tree that will likely get to big for the situation? So back to Lowes it went.

Most times my first concern when buying shrubs or larger sized plants is what height/width they will be at full maturity. That is why I do research before I ever buy something, and have a list to make sure I don't get off track or buy something similar but not exactly the same. Obviously I had left my list and better judgement at home the day I bought that tree, lol!

If there is anyway to take it back now I would do it. Or even sell or gift it to a neighbor or someone. It is better to do that than regret it in a few years time when you can't do anything about it!

Ps. love your arbor and new bed. The sweeping curves are so graceful.
CMK

I do that constantly - I'm always planting things that get too big for the spot. I find that you can't always believe the tags that are in the pots when you buy them. I moved my butterfly bush to the side of the yard and I think I put it a little too close to the entrance...

I hope im making the right choice, i think im going to dig it up and return it. I have to do it now, i dont want to fall in love with it when it blooms, and i do have roses close by, i dont want the roots to intertwine and be a real mess. I think ill put a new hydrangea there. Or that boomerang lilac. I love how graceful the tree is but oh well. Thanks for the advice!!

I believe there are two sizes weeping cherry....or so I have been told...

ladies, All is not lost. Any tree can be dwarfed with proper pruning. Determine the leader (trunk, branch) and nip it off. It forces the plant to produce more branches and it's simple to control those branches too. The only thing that would be difficult to control is the roots. Unless the tree is contained, there's just no way the roots could be controlled. So theoretically you can have a tree that is no more than 5 feet tall if you keep vigilant and prune well, what's more you can grow the tree in the shape you like. Sweeping for example. I know because I've done bonsai years ago...

At our old cottage, I had a cherry tree with roots that rivaled those of a Norway maple. Every year, lots of sprouts sprang from the roots.

But that cherry tree was drop dead gorgeous for 6 days in April. Then a spring storm would blow through, and the ground beneath the tree was covered with white blossoms - like snow. At that point, the show was over until the next year.

Although that cherry tree created deep shade in my little bit of yard, I loved that tree.