Patio Trees – the Easy Step by Step Guide

I think trees are wonderful for so many reasons but not everyone has the space to grow huge trees. Indeed, not everyone has a garden! This is where patio trees come in. They are an incredibly compact way of getting to enjoy trees with only a small patio, terrace, back yard or balcony.

Potted patio trees can add so much joy to your day and there are loads of benefits to growing them which you can read about below. I will also talk about different varieties of trees that can work really well and show you exactly how to plant yours with a step by step guide.

Full Disclosure: I was lucky enough to be gifted these stunning Bicolour Azaleas by Gardener’s Dream here in the UK. I will talk more about them later but spoiler alert, I was blown away by the beauty of these trees.

This page contains affiliate links meaning I earn a little commission if you use those links at no cost to you. I only recommend brands I use and trust. 

Benefits of Patio Trees

• Natural Air Purification: Trees act as living air filters, removing pollutants and increasing oxygen levels. Here they are doing it right next to you!
• Temperature Regulation: Provide natural shade, reducing patio temperatures. Have you ever noticed how much cooler it is near plants?
• Privacy Screen: Create a natural barrier for increased seclusion and intimacy in your outdoor space.
• Wildlife Attraction: Invite birds and beneficial insects, enhancing your patio’s ecosystem. This is one of the best parts of growing outdoor patio trees in my opinion.
• Stress Reduction: Studies show that being around trees can lower stress levels and improve mental well-being.
• Property Value: Well-maintained patio trees can increase your home’s market value and saleability.
• Fresh Produce: Fruit-bearing trees offer the joy of homegrown, organic fruits right on your patio. I have a patio pear tree and I am hoping this year it will fruit.

Which Patio Tree should you choose?

This is a very difficult question because it depends on so many factors. I am going to list the main things you should consider when buying a patio tree and also suggest some great varieties that work well here in the UK.

Consider your climate. Even within an area you can have quite different micro-climates. My patio gets very hot in summer so any plants have to be able to cope with that. Equally I know people have ‘frost pockets’ so make sure you know what your patio is like and what conditions you can provide.

One advantage of patio trees is that you can choose the growing medium and pot (more on that later) and you can move them around assuming they are not too large. So, where you may be restricted in the garden you may be able to get a bit more adventurous in your varieties. For example, I have tried azaleas in the garden and they do not thrive but I have bought ericaceous compost for these so I am hoping they will love it.

The best trees for growing in pots are slow growing or dwarf varieties because they naturally stay within the size you want. If you buy very vigorous varieties then they can be hard to keep under control and can look a bit ‘leggy’. By that I mean they lose their nice shapes and can end up just all long spindly branches.

Lollipop trees like mine here are a great choice for a patio as they are already set to be the right size, simply prune regularly and you are sorted! Multi-stem trees can also be a good idea as that can limit size.

This is the olive tree by my back door. It is a bit straggly after the winter but quite happy and busy flowering so I will not be pruning it any time soon.

Great Patio Tree Varieties

Obviously this list is far from exhaustive but I hope it gives you some ideas.

How to Plant your Patio Tree

Select your pot

Assuming you have picked your tree you now need a suitable pot. I have used 2 plastic pots that I already had as I am keen to reuse everything I can.

Key things to make sure your pots for patio trees can do for your tree:

• It needs to be heavy enough not to blow over and damage your tree. Consider where you are placing it.
• Large enough for the plant to grow more roots.
• Have drainage holes in the bottom
• You must like it (unless it will be hidden behind other lower planted pots)

Add something to the bottom of your pot to improve drainage. Traditionally this is old broken terracotta pots but not many people will have those. If you don’t, try broken household crockery or polystyrene from packaging of large appliances. As you can see I have used mine before!

Plant your Patio Tree

Your growing medium is very important. As I am growing Azaleas I have used an ericaceous compost that I purchased. But I still mixed in some leaf mould that I made over the winter. If you want to make your own leaf mould you can see how I do it here. I also added in a little manure that I have got just to feed it for a while.

Do not get too stressed about what to grow your patio tree in. General advice suggests a loam-based compost but use what you can easily get. Just check your particular tree for any special requirements.

Your pot should not be massive compared to your current patio tree pot. If it is, you can cheat! Simply pot your patio tree on into a slightly larger pot and then plant that in your large pot. You will be able to use your large, fancy pot but your tree will think that it is in a smaller pot.

Once you are ready to plant up your patio tree ease it out of its pot and place the pot into your larger pot and add your chosen compost around it. Then, remove the pot. You should have formed the perfect hole to pot your patio tree in. This just means that you are not struggling with the whole tree while adding your compost and trying to get the level right.

Place your patio tree into the hole and firm it in. You may need to add a little more compost but make sure you plant it at the same height as it was before. Tidy up the pot and you are done.

You can add something (often a mulch) to the surface of the compost to help retain moisture, reduce weeds and make it look prettier. I have added some small stones to mine.

Caring for your Patio Tree

Obviously you will want to keep your patio tree in excellent condition so let’s cover some ongoing care. As your tree is in a pot the most important care you can offer is keeping it well watered. A good watering less frequently is the best option. Check if you can use tap water or if it needs to be rain water like it does for my Azaleas.

Your tree will need feeding. Again, this depends on the variety but at the very least you should look to scrape off the top of the compost and add some new every 3 years. Ideally you should also feed your tree during the growing season.

Here is a guide for your patio tree’s year:

Spring

• Prune dead or damaged branches
• Apply a fresh layer of mulch (whatever you used)
• Start feeding your patio tree regularly
• Monitor for early signs of pests or diseases (and treat accordingly)

Summer

• Increase watering frequency during hot spells (do not let it dry out completely)
• Provide shade for sensitive species
• Keep feeding regularly
• Continue pest monitoring and treatment

Autumn (Fall)

• Reduce watering as temperatures cool
• Prepare trees for winter by wrapping trunks of young or tender trees and/or pots
• Clean up fallen leaves to prevent disease

Winter

• Move cold-sensitive trees indoors or to a protected area
• Water sparingly, only when soil is dry
• Brush off heavy snow to prevent branch breakage

Gardeners Dream

I said at the start of this article that my patio trees came as a gift from gardeners dream. So I thought I would share my experience of receiving plants from them. I have never bought from them before.

The patio trees arrived well packaged and in fabulous condition. It was pouring down so I had to open them up indoors!

I was blown away by how gorgeous they were and the quality of the plants. This extended to there being excellent roots on both trees too.

I will definitely consider them for any future online plant orders. In the past I have been disappointed by online plants and gardeners dream have returned my faith in the system.

Also in your Garden …

As well as patio trees you can also grow tomatoes in pots and I have written an article to help you get started with that too. They taste gorgeous when you pick them straight from the plant!

Or perhaps you are looking to add fragrance to your garden. I must confess that I have a lot of plants that I selected purely for fragrance!

If you are looking to combine gardening with crafting then how about making some DIY gazing globes. They are so quick and easy and last for years (mine have lasted 5 years so far!)

Whatever you are up to enjoy the outdoors and your patio trees. Let me know in the comments below what your favourite patio tree is.