Last update: 23-02-2022 Home & Garden

Best Patio Trees - 4 Must-Have Potted Trees for Patio

Patio trees are an increasingly popular decoration and a perfect alternative for traditional flowers. Not only they look beautiful, but also are less complicated to take care of - which might be important for beginner gardeners. But as it turns out, not all trees are good for growing on a patio. Don't worry, though - you can find a few perfect suggestions below. We have prepared a list of the best trees for containers.

Are trees in containers on the patio a good idea?

A potted tree on a patio is a common option for decorating a space like this. This solution has a few significant advantages. Most importantly:

• it’s a decoration - and can replace several pots with flowers,
• it helps you relax - it’s common knowledge that people rest better with greenery around,
• it guarantees privacy - if the neighbor’s garden or balcony in the next apartment is close-by, patio trees can protect you from prying eyes,
• it’s low-maintenance - taking care of patio trees is much easier than flowers,
• it’s great all-year-round - most potted trees can be left on the patio in winter, without worrying that something will happen to them,
• it provides shade - you don’t have to install special canopies, as patio trees, especially big ones, provide plenty of shadow.

What should you remember about when choosing patio trees?

Are you dreaming of having a potted tree on your balcony or patio? Surprisingly, picking one is not complicated. However, there are some issues you should pay a special attention to. The growth rate of such a potted tree is one of them. If you have a large space, it’s not that important, especially in patios in big houses and duplex buildings. The problem might occur in apartment balconies, where the space is quite limited. In this case, you should check how the potential patio tree will grow and what height it might reach.

The place and lighting you can provide to the trees are other crucial aspects. Most species are highly durable, and can grow on any patio without an issue. But some plants dislike being exposed to direct sunlight the whole day. Make sure to check the position of your patio or balcony beforehand.

Resistance to low temperatures is another significant issue you can’t forget. Many potted patio trees can be left outside over winter. Sometimes they have to be covered with burlap - but it’s not problematic at all. But some species are highly sensitive, and cannot be left outside and exposed to frost. In this case, you need a place for storing them over winter. Make sure you have such an option, otherwise verify that the patio trees you choose can survive the weather conditions in your region.

Decorative potted patio trees

Not all patio trees look the same. Thanks to many available species, those who deal with this topic professionally, have decided to divide them into groups. The division concerns the type of plants, as well as their growth rate and additional features. One of the simplest classifications of potted trees to grow on a patio predicts the following types:

• round,
• column,
• conical,
• weeping,
• fruit-bearing.

You can pick one type of the patio trees - this way, your space will be more organized. But there’s nothing wrong with mixing potted trees, e.g. column with weeping species. The result might be truly intriguing.

Coniferous potted trees for a patio - spruce and cypress

Coniferous plants make perfect patio trees, especially if the place is in direct sunlight. Although, there are certain exceptions - for instance, spruces grow better in half-shade rather than in intense sun. There are many options of coniferous trees that can be grown on a patio. You can pick from the following species:

• thujas,
• pines,
• yews,
• arborvitae,
• junipers,
• dwarf mountain pines.

As it turns out, these aren’t the most typical species. Common spruce is the most beloved patio tree. Why is it so popular? Most importantly, because of:

• low requirements - it can grow all-year-round in any weather conditions,
• beautiful looks - the potted tree looks majestic and is a perfect patio decoration,
• arrangement options - there are no flowers or shrubs that would look bad when placed next to a spruce tree.

Cypress is another popular species often used as patio trees. In this case, you can pick from many varieties, such as:

• Sawara cypress,
• Nootka cypress,
• Lawson cypress,
• Atlantic white cypress,
• Taiwan cypress,
• Hinoki cypress.

As many owners note, cypress is not as easy to maintain as other patio trees. But the effort you put in its care shows in the plant’s development. The soil is the most important factor here. It should be fertile. A cypress tree dislikes wind, so make sure to protect it accordingly. But it’s resistant to low temperatures, which is a big advantage.

Viburnum - a beautiful potted tree for a patio

Viburnums make characteristic patio trees, mostly thanks to their large and beautiful flowers. They are typically round and white, although there are other varieties with more interesting colors as well. Plants with slightly pink flower are rare, but they can be found on some patios and in yards.

A viburnum is a perfect potted tree both for a sunny, and shaded patio. Make sure not to expose the plant to strong wind, as it might break its branches. Fertile and permeable soil is the best for a potted viburnum. You can feed the plant from time to time as well.

Viburnum is one of the potted trees that survive winter without any problems. It won’t die even in -30°C (-22°F). It can be left on the patio throughout the whole year.

Azaleas - colorful patio trees

Azalea is a great plant that can be grown indoors, in the house and outdoors, on the patio. Half-shade is the best option for this potted tree. It doesn’t need any special type of soil - it just should always be damp. Azalea patio trees hate droughts.

This patio tree develops beautiful flowers in the blooming season, usually from May to July. Depending on the species you pick, the flowers have the following colors:

• white,
• red,
• pink,
• burgundy.

Azalea is highly resistant to low temperatures. Because it’s one of the potted trees that survive winter - you can leave it on the patio when it’s cold. You can cover it with some burlap, just to be sure.