Think small for patio trees
SPECIALIST TREES
If you have a limited amount of space in your garden then trees would seem to be out of the question. Even one tree would surely cast too much shade and take up too much room.
Corkscrew hazel (Corylus avellana contorta) – Harry Lauder’s walking stick
Think again, because there’s a good choice of trees that can be grown in containers on a patio – even on a balcony. They can give structure and added interest, with some producing fruit and autumn colour into a very small space.
Container grown trees are a good bet, but there are also dwarf fruit
trees that can be grown in soil, and those grown as espaliers against a wall. So it’s not a limited concept, to grow a tree in a small space.
If you are buying a tree to grow in a pot, buy a suitable type. Although growing any tree in a container will restrict its size, it’s best to avoid fast-growing, large or vigorous trees as they will soon look ‘leggy’, struggling to grow in too small a space for roots that need to spread widely.
So look instead for a tree that won’t mind staying in a pot. One option is to go for one of the Japanese maples – with their finely shaped leaves, elegant shapes, and lovely autumn shades, they make an ideal choice for a small garden or where space is limited on a patio.
A dwarf conifer, or a tree that can be clipped into a smart topiary shape, such as bay, box, laurel, privet or holly, will give year-round structure and interest.
You may like the Mediterranean influence of a tender tree such as an olive, a lemon tree or a pomegranate. These can be moved indoors into a frost free place over winter.
Olives have proved to be surprisingly tough in the UK.
Then there are the fruit trees grown on semi-dwarfing rootstock. Apples or pears can be grown as espaliers into a fan shape or as cordons on wires.
A corkscrew hazel tree, Corylus avellana contorta, makes a quirky, small specimen tree that is quite a conversation piece, with its twisted, contorted branches displayed best in winter.
Kowhai (Sophora microphylla) makes a lovely ornamental small tree with its hanging yellow flowers
A small tree should not be put into too large a container. It’s much better to pot it on in stages, ending up with a minimum size container that’s about 45cm (18in).
Other points to consider: terracotta pots are porous and the compost can dry out quickly; if you choose plastic, the pot might be blown over, but it will be easier to move around, and a large, filled terracotta pot might prove too heavy.
Good trees to grow in pots on the patio
a wall
Corylus avellana contorta) – Harry Lauder’s walking stick
Sophora microphylla) makes a lovely ornamental small tree with its hanging yellow flowers – but the bark and seeds are poisonous
Also known as ‘Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick’ after the old comic who used a twisted walking stick as part of his routine, the pruned branches are a favourite with flower arrangers. In a border it can grow fairly large, but will be a more manageable size in a container.
It’s vital that whatever tree you choose, the container is suitable, large enough to comfortably take the rootball of the tree and has plenty of drainage holes. The pot should suit your garden, whether it is traditional or a modern style straight out of the glossy magazines.
20
Country Gardener
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