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Trees in a pot for patio


Best trees to grow in pots: 15 beautiful compact varieties

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

The best trees to grow in pots can add much needed interest to patios, courtyards and other areas of your back yard.

With both deciduous and evergreen options, offering various leaf color, fruit and flowers through the seasons, potted trees are versatile container gardening ideas.

Growing pots in trees is a way to zone a secluded seating or dining area as a patio idea, flowering trees can add color and scent, while citrus or olive trees are ideal if you want to create a Mediterranean-style garden.

One of the big advantages is that you can grow tree species that wouldn't usually suit the growing conditions in your hardiness zone as the best trees to grow in pots can be moved indoors in colder months. 

The best trees to grow in pots

Many different trees can thrive in pots, so look beyond the local garden center for inspiration. You could choose one of the best indoor trees that you move outdoors in warmer months to surround yourself with nature year round.

'There are many types of trees you can grow in pots and containers,' says small space gardening expert Emilly Barbosa Fernandes of Housegrail . 'They instantly brighten up any garden, and can become the main focal point.'

If you want a low-maintenance planting scheme, then the best trees to grow in pots must be compatible with your local climate, and require minimal pruning. An advantage of planting trees in pots is that you can control their soil type – perhaps growing an acid-loving tree in a chalky soil, or creating free-draining conditions in a garden with heavy clay soil.

Consider where you want the tree to be positioned in your garden, as whether it will sit in full sun or receive some shade will be a factor in which varieties will be suitable.

It's important to look at the maximum size of a tree species, and how many years it will take to reach maturity. Some trees are suited to pots for their whole life, while other slow-growing varieties can have a long pot life before needing to be eventually planted in the ground as part of your flower bed ideas.  

Trees have hungry, thirsty roots, so container size is also key. Ensure you invest in a pot that's big enough for your chosen tree to flourish.

Remember that a tree planted in a pot will dry out more quickly than in the ground, and the smaller the pot size, the more often you will have to water it. 

1. Peach tree

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Enjoy a delicious home harvest of fruit by growing a peach tree in a container. These are among the best fruit trees to grow, and ideal for trees to grow in pots, particularly as you can move the container to the sunniest and warmest positions throughout the year. 

You will need a fairly large container for growing a peach tree – although not so large that you can not easily move it when required. Good drainage is important, so either add some crocs or stones to the bottom of a container, or raise it up on pot feet to aid drainage.

'You will need to water peach trees grown in pots almost every day in the growing season, and repot them every few years' explains Guy Barter, chief horticulturist at the RHS .

2. Crab apple tree

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Producing lovely pink blossom in spring, followed by their ornamental fruits in fall, crab apples are among the best trees to grow in pots.

When planting crab apples in containers, use a pot that is approximately 12-15in. (30-40cm), in a good quality and free draining loam based compost, explain the experts at Pomona Fruits .

Keep them well watered in the first growing season, watering them daily in warmer weather. They are also among the best trees for autumn color.

3. Amelanchier

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

A small, compact deciduous tree, amelanchier – known by a number of other names including juneberry, shadbush and sarvisberry – offers interest through the seasons. It produces lovely starry white flowers in spring, red and purple berries in summer through to fall, and its bronze tinged young leaves turn through green to the fiery colors of orange and red, making this undoubtedly one of the best trees to grow in pots .

Amelanchier prefers a spot in full sun, so move the container to the best spot throughout the year. Plant bare root trees for the most economical option, in ericaceous compost in a large pot.

4. Japanese maple tree

(Image credit: Ian West / Alamy Stock Photo)

Japanese maples trees – or acer palmatum – are ideal for smaller gardens, as they are slow growing and require minimal pruning or training.  They also offer lovely fall color.

‘With a variety of showy cascades in foliage and colors ranging from vibrant greens to deep blood reds, this is a showcase tree for container growing,’ says Tammy Sons, owner of Tennessee Nursery .

‘Japanese maple trees do not grow to extreme heights, seldom reaching over 15 feet. My favorite varieties are 'Crimson Queen' and 'Bloodgood', with their added attribute of spectacular fall foliage.’

Meanwhile, Lisa Tadewaldt, arborist and owner of Urban Forest Pro , particularly favors the dwarf maple 'Sharp's Pygmy'. ‘They can live in a pot for hundreds of years,' she says. 'You can ignore them or pamper them – either way they always look great. This is a favorite of serious bonsai artists, and what I personally have on my deck in pots.’

Position Japanese maples in a cool spot that receives some shade during the hottest part of the day, and water regularly in the summer. They are perfect to include for Japanese garden ideas.

5. Lemon tree

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)

‘I always think there is something very romantic about a lemon tree growing in a pot,’ says Aaron Bertelsen, author of Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots . ‘Perhaps it is the way the scent of the blossom fills a room, or the knowledge that rich people in the past would build dedicated lemon houses to shelter their highly prized trees.’

While lemon trees make fantastic house plants during the winter, they can grow happily outdoors during the spring and summer. This is why planting them in pots is the best solution, so you can bring them indoors in frosty weather.

You can even learn how to grow lemon from seed, to surround yourself with these uplifting trees.

‘Lemons are hungry plants, so make sure you use a good, soil-based compost, adding some grit or sharp sand to improve drainage,’ adds Bertelsen, who recommends the Meyer variety as it flowers throughout the year.

Make sure you understand how to prune lemon trees to get the best out of them, and let them dry out between waterings.

6. Dwarf conifers

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

Larger conifers are some of the best trees for privacy and screening in a backyard, but there are a number of smaller species that are perfect for pots.

Some recommended conifers to consider are dwarf varieties of cypress trees, yew trees, mountain pines, and Chinese juniper.

‘They are not top-heavy and have an equal branch structure from the central leader to the top,’ says Sons. 

‘Evergreen conifers also offer year-round beauty and they can successfully be trimmed back in order for them to not overwhelm the container. ’ 

7. Crepe Myrtle

(Image credit: Biosphoto / Alamy Stock Photo)

Crepe myrtle – or crape myrtle – is a striking tree that offers year-round interest, and grows very well in pots.

‘This beautiful tree has large trumpet-shaped flowers that often have an orange tint to them,’ says Lindsey Hyland, founder of Urban Organic Yield . 'Crape myrtles also have good fall color, with attractive peeling bark. I love how the branches are always thick enough to handle being in pots.’

Choose from flowers of white, pink or purple, which bloom from late spring through summer. Some varieties flower until the first frost in fall.

Crepe myrtle trees need full sun to thrive, and in frost-prone areas will need to be overwintered in a greenhouse or conservatory. Learn how to prune crepe myrtle to keep your trees looking their best.

8. Bay tree

(Image credit: Brent Darby)

As well as creating a sculptural feature, bay trees are aromatic herbs that have wonderfully scented leaves that can be used in cooking fresh or dried.

Bay trees look particularly stunning in pairs flanking a doorway, or can be positioned next to seating areas on the patio for outdoor dining ideas. They thrive in containers and can be clipped into attractive ball or pyramid topiary shapes.

‘A bay tree is very easy to look after, provided you give it a good sunny spot and feed it regularly,’ says Bertelsen. ‘Prune every spring, both to keep it at the size you want it and to reduce any congestion.’

It’s a good idea to repot bay trees every few years to keep them healthy and encourage fresh growth. Bay trees are an excellent choice for planter box ideas.

9. Banana tree

(Image credit: Oleksandr Sokolenko / Alamy Stock Photo)

Banana trees are some of the best trees to grow in pots if you want to add a tropical garden idea to your patio. But bear in mind if you are growing a banana tree in the garden this will generally be for their ornamental leaves, rather than for fruit, unless you live in a climate of at least 60ºF (15°C) for most of the year.

‘If you live in a cooler climate, then a banana tree still brings a taste of tropics to your landscaping,’ says Tadewaldt. ‘The growth of these trees is usually stunted by the colder weather enough that they can live in the pot for an extended period of time.'

Smaller varieties of banana tree are particularly well suited to climates with colder winters, as they can be brought inside and enjoyed as a houseplant. 

10. Rhododendron

(Image credit: Gina Kelly / Alamy Stock Photo)

As well as the popular shrubs, rhododendrons are also available in tree form – R. arboreum. Although after several decades they can eventually reach great heights of over 40 feet, they are slow-growing trees that will live happily for years in a pot, so it is worth learning how to grow rhododendrons.

‘I really like rhododendron – it is such a pretty flowering tree with red and white flowers in the summer,’ says Hyland. As an evergreen tree, it possesses attractive dark green leaves year round.

‘My favorite thing about it is its ability to thrive in stunted, acidic, or shallow soil conditions.’

Be sure you know how to prune rhododendron to keep your potted specimens under control.

11. Olive tree

(Image credit: Darren Chung)

If you want to create a Mediterranean garden, olive trees are ideal and perfectly suited to growing in containers, as they can be moved to safety during excessively cold winters.

‘Olive trees are not fond of winter, so make sure to cover them if you know a frost is coming,’ says Barbosa Fernandes.

‘They love warmth and sun, and they also do well in dry areas. However, they do need the right conditions to produce olives.’ 

In order for the trees to fruit, they will need two months with temperatures below 50°F (10°C), but above 14°F (-10°C), as well as fluctuation between day and night temperatures. Although self-fertile, olive trees benefit from cross pollination.

‘If you don’t have the right conditions to grow olives, don’t be too disappointed, as they’re such elegant evergreen trees,’ says Barbosa Fernandes. ‘Fertilize them in the spring for the best results.’

You also need to know how to prune olive trees to improve their shape and increase the chances of fruit production.

12. Wedding Cake Tree 

(Image credit: Steffen Hauser / Botanikfoto / Alamy Stock Photo)

Also known as Cornus controversa 'Variegata', the wedding cake tree is a variegated dogwood tree. 

‘The white in the leaves adds interest and it naturally grows in layers – like the layers of a cake, hence its name – and pruning will help to emphasize this form,’ says Tadewaldt.

However, regular pruning isn’t essential, and as the tree is slow-growing, it will live happily in its pot for a long time, as long as the soil is fertile. 

‘Eventually, however, this tree will outgrow the pot and need to be transplanted,’ adds Tadewaldt.

13. Apple tree

(Image credit: Unsplash)

Smaller varieties of apple tree are perfect for growing in pots on the patio. Not only are varieties grown on dwarf rootstock usually quicker to fruit, but they are often better quality than larger trees.

When choosing a variety of apple tree, you need to consider pollination. ‘Self-fertile cultivars are available, although it’s generally recommended to have at least two different partner trees nearby for cross-pollination,' explains Period Living’s gardening expert Leigh Clapp.

When planting apple trees in pairs, 'opt for different varieties of apple tree that flower at the same time.'

If you only have room for one apple tree, Red Falstaff is a great choice as it is heavy cropping and very hardy. Apples trees are among the best fast growing fruit trees so you will enjoy a well sized tree before you know it.

14. Starry magnolia

(Image credit: Getty Images)

While most types of magnolia will grow too large to plant in pots, starry magnolia is a more compact, bushy tree that produces the most beautiful white, star-shaped flowers.

The tree flowers in the spring and exudes a delicate fragrance, adding a romantic air to a patio seating area.

Position starry magnolia in a sheltered spot, and plant in neutral to acid soil that is well drained.

When established, they are low maintenance, and require only mulching in spring, and learn how to prune a magnolia tree lightly in the summer.

15. Kumquat

(Image credit: Francesco Maltinti / Alamy Stock Photo)

Citrus trees make for some of the best indoor trees, but you can grow them outside in the right climates. 

‘If you’ve never tried kumquat, then you most definitely should – you can eat the entire thing, skin and all,’ says Barbosa Fernandes. 

Producing small orange fruits and flowers that bloom in the summer, these compact  trees can be easily grown in pots, and are one of the hardiest citrus fruits.

‘Position them in full sun, and plant in moist, well-draining soil. However, you don’t need to worry about cross-pollination or cold weather killing it down to 18°F (-8°C),’ adds Barbosa Fernandes.

What trees can remain in pots?

Trees can remain in pots indefinitely if you can find a container large enough to accommodate their maximum mature size. Otherwise, you will need to plant them in the ground when they grow too large.

Opt for dwarf varieties of container-friendly trees, such as Japanese maples and small conifers. Bay trees, small citrus trees and olive trees are also good options.

Bear in mind that most trees will need potting on to a larger container every few years, when they have outgrown their pot.

(Image credit: Darren Chung)

Can trees survive in pots over winter?

Some trees can survive in pots over winter, but this will largely depend on your local climate. 

In warmer regions, for example, citrus trees can stay outside year round, but in regions that experience cold winter nights of below 50°F (10°C), they will need to be brought inside.

Japanese maple trees are excellent choices for pots in most climates, and can survive very cold winters where temperatures reach as low as -20°F (-28°C).

What are the best evergreen trees for pots?

There are a number of best evergreen trees for pots. These include Rhododendron arboreum, bay trees, conifers, Japanese holly and Italian cypress – to name but a few. There are many other options you can find to suit the conditions in your garden and area where you live.

As editor of Period Living, Britain's best-selling period homes magazine, Melanie loves the charm of older properties. I live in a rural village just outside the Cotswolds in England, so am lucky to be surrounded by beautiful homes and countryside, where I enjoy exploring. Having worked in the industry for almost two decades, Melanie is interested in all aspects of homes and gardens. Her previous roles include working on Real Homes and Homebuilding & Renovating, and she has also contributed to Gardening Etc. She has an English degree and has also studied interior design. Melanie frequently writes for Homes & Gardens about property restoration and gardening.

13 Best Small Trees for Patios

By

Lisa Hallett Taylor

Lisa Hallett Taylor

Lisa Hallett Taylor is an expert in architecture and landscape design who has written more than 1,000 articles about pool, patio, garden, and home improvement over 12 years. She has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Design and is certified in fine and decorative arts appraisal.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 12/19/22

Reviewed by

Kathleen Miller

Reviewed by Kathleen Miller

Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

The Spruce / Tara Anand

Small trees on patios or decks can serve as natural focal points, add privacy, frame views, provide shade, and even bear fruit. Many of these trees can grow well in containers or raised beds. Some have special features, including flowers, attractive bark, and vivid fall colors. However, the features of certain trees might be too messy for your taste, dropping seeds, flowers, fruits, and more. So it's important to know all of a tree's traits, as well as whether it thrives in your climate, before committing. Here are 13 of the best small trees to grow around a patio or deck.

Tip

To find the right tree for your space, first consider its mature height and width. Also, note whether its roots tend to crack or lift up pavement, which wouldn't be ideal right next to a patio. And if you plan to grow your tree in a container, make sure you'll be able to repot it whenever the roots need more space.

25 Popular Small Trees for Landscaping

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Queen Palm Problems. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

  2. Disease and Insect Resistant Ornamental Plants. Cornell Cooperative Extension.

  3. Fire Blight of Ornamental Pear. University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Research and Extension.

Garden patio

A rare garden plot happens without a special place intended for relaxation or friendly gatherings. Someone in this role is a simple bench under the window of a garden house, much more often it is a gazebo or pavilion, braided with climbing plants or lined with flowers and ornamental shrubs. Recently, the patio has become an increasingly popular place for relaxation in the garden.

WHAT IS A PATIO?
A patio is a hard-surfaced area on which country furniture can be installed, often a garden fireplace or a grill oven for outdoor cooking. In the garden literature, you can find many references to the patio, but this term has entered our lexicon relatively recently. According to the architectural vocabulary, a patio is an open courtyard, often surrounded by galleries. It is widely distributed in Mediterranean countries and in Latin America. Apparently, in relation to modern gardens, the term "patio" is gradually gaining more and more extensive content. Let's try to understand this in more detail. nine0009 In a broad sense, a patio is a small isolated area in the garden, which most often directly adjoins the house or summer kitchen, but can also be arranged separately from summer cottages. If a patio is arranged near the house, then it becomes a kind of continuation of the internal space of the housing, another additional open-air room, which can be accessed directly from the house through wide sliding or hinged doors, which is especially convenient. When organizing a patio area near the house, it is important to take into account the geographical location and climate of the area: in areas where the summer is cool, the patio, of course, is placed on the sunny side of the house. nine0005

PATIO FUNCTION
By definition, a patio is for outdoor living. However, rest is different, and therefore the functions performed by the patio may vary. Within the patio reserved for a relaxing pastime, meetings and feasts, a barbecue oven or at least a simple barbecue, as well as garden furniture: benches, chairs and a table are placed in a narrow circle. On the site, located in a sunny place, there may be sun loungers for sunbathing, you can also hang a hammock. If there are outdoor enthusiasts in the family, then it would be nice to provide for the placement of sports equipment or even a tennis table on the patio. To save from the bright rays of the sun and rain, a canopy or a translucent roof made of polycarbonate plastic is arranged. nine0005

BUILDING MATERIALS
The base of the patio is a platform paved with natural stone, clinker bricks, paving slabs on a concrete screed or on a sand and gravel cushion. However, the coating can be more budgetary, for example, filled with gravel, and also lightweight, when instead of paving boards or parquet boards are laid on the logs, constructing a garden deck or deck. On such a warm wooden surface heated by the rays of the sun, it is pleasant to walk barefoot and sit in a wicker chair. nine0009 Wood flooring must be protected from decay. One of the most promising methods is thermal. At high temperatures, the polysaccharides in the composition of wood are destroyed, and it becomes unattractive for microorganisms. The thermal board obtained as a result of such processing becomes resistant to fungi in both dry and wet environments. Recently, decking has become more and more widespread, which is a mixture of chopped wood and various polymeric substances (polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.). Such decking has high environmental friendliness and wear resistance. The material is resistant to moisture, does not rot, well resists the action of ultraviolet rays and temperature changes. Composite decking is easy to install and is great for creating light decking in the garden. nine0026
When deciding on the use of one or another material in the construction of a patio , of course, one should take into account the stylistic features of all structures on the site, the nature of paving and fencing. The size of the patio is calculated in such a way that it is combined with the scale of the house and garden. The width of the site adjacent to the house is usually made somewhat larger than the height of the first floor, i.e. not less than 3.0–3.5 m. Most often, the patio is designed square or round, but there are no strict rules in this regard, and if necessary, it can be elongated or triangular.

WALLS
Since the patio is mainly intended for rest and relaxation, then its main feature is privacy and security from the outside world. And its space should not be exposed to the public. However, it is not at all necessary to surround the patio with walls, constructing a real patio - there are other ways to hide a private area from prying eyes. nine0009 The most common solutions are: the use of clipped hedges - green screens or vines. These techniques are traditionally used to divide the garden into zones and create secluded green rooms. The task is facilitated if the walls of the house serve as the boundaries of the patio on one or even two sides. A dense hedge is good for camouflaging your patio area and protecting it from the wind, but it can limit the amount of light that comes in. Therefore, the fence should not be very high: the smaller the patio area, the lower the height of the green walls. nine0009 PATIO LANDSCAPING PLANTS
Deciduous shrubs are often used to form a living patio fence, in which case the result is achieved faster, and the costs are less significant than when planting softwood . Sheared hedges up to 1.5–2.0 m high are grown from common barberry and barberry Thunberg, brilliant cotoneaster, euonymus European, common privet, as well as white turf, riverine maple and high spirea. Depending on the planted plant species, they are densely planted in 1-2 rows at the rate of 1-3 specimens / rm. m. You can also separate the patio area from the rest of the garden space using vertical structures: trellises, trellises or garden screens. nine0005

This method is perhaps more elegant, since such a fence takes up less space , its surface turns out to be more openwork, moreover, beautifully blooming vines are used in decorating vertical structures: climbing roses , clematis , princes and climbing honeysuckles. They will turn the patio into a cozy green room with flowering walls. The list of vines, in addition, is easy to replenish with decorative types of perennials and annuals, such as morning glory, dubious tladianta, sweet peas, nasturtium or fiery red beans. Completely enclosing the patio is also not worth it because in a confined space a person may feel uncomfortable. Also, do not deprive yourself of the pleasure of admiring the beauty of the garden from a comfortable platform. Experienced landscapers design a garden in such a way that the patio serves as one of the points of the site from which an attractive garden view opens up.

In fact, patio can be considered a separate small garden, built into the overall structure of the site. nine0004
The general complex also includes entrance arches and pergolas braided with plants, completely or partially covering the patio area.
If this zone is isolated and located away from the house, then a path is laid to it, which can also be arranged as a pergola, gallery or arcade. All these structures and structures become one with the patio. Ornamental plantings of shrubs and perennials along the fence, flower borders planted at the base of the trellis or lining the hedge can also be part of a large patio area. nine0030

If the patio area is formed on a site with a rugged relief and occupies part of the terrace, then the retaining wall or slope is decorated with shrubs with creeping and low spreading crowns, helping to create a dense or even continuous ground cover. These can be creeping willow and rocky willow, horizontal cotoneaster and Dammer's cotoneaster, ground cover roses, periwinkles or undersized, creeping conifers: junipers, microbiota, mountain pine, etc. Creeping and ampelous perennials also look attractive on slopes and walls: monetized loosestrife, yellow zelenchuk, ivy-shaped budra, subulate phlox, yasnotki and yaskolki. nine0005

Patios are often decorated with planters and flowerpots, as well as container crops that are taken out of the house in the summer to the street. A tub of orange blossoms or hibiscus in bloom , standing on paving slabs, will make your patio look like an Italian patio. And if it is also decorated with materials painted in the colors of terracotta and azure, then the resemblance to the Mediterranean prototype is guaranteed.

RECOMMENDATIONS
If the boardwalk is located in a shady and damp place, its surface, and especially the steps, can become wet and slippery. To protect against slipping, decking or shields with a corrugated, grooved surface are used; in the most dangerous places it can be tightened with a fine-mesh metal mesh. Along the edge of a paved area or deck, plants are placed in wooden tubs: tulips, lilies, hostas, compositions of attractive bush and ampelous annuals. They visually limit the private patio area and at the same time provide a gradual transition to the natural part of the garden. nine0009 If you are setting up an outdoor patio without a canopy, then make sure that tree branches do not hang over the platform from above. In addition to the fact that the patio will be in the shade all the time, which is not so good in our cool climate, after a rain, drops of water will fall from the branches for a long time.

05/12/2020

Traditional ways of gardening the patio

When and where the courtyard was first used for family recreation, it is not known for certain. Something similar could be found in many countries with ancient history: Egypt, India, Greece, Persia and, of course, in the Roman Empire. From the very word "patio", which has a Latin origin, it seems to breathe Mediterranean air, stones heated by the southern sun, aromas of grapes and citruses. In the classical sense, a patio is a cozy, partially isolated open-air courtyard adjacent to the wall of the house or located in the depths of the garden. nine0005

Most often, low walls or green spaces surround the patio on two or three sides, the floor is paved with tiles or stone, and there is a hearth or barbecue in the immediate vicinity. Garden furniture is always present in the dining area: a pair of light chairs, wicker chairs, a sofa and a table. Very often, patios are decorated with small fountains, beautiful forged lanterns, antique vases, sculptures and, without fail, plants. It can be trees and shrubs planted immediately behind the wall; curly vines on trellises; beautifully flowering, as well as decorative and deciduous perennial and annual plants in pots and tubs, including indoor plants. It is living greenery that creates that amazing atmosphere filled with peace, tranquility and comfort. nine0005

A patio doesn't have to be Mediterranean in style. Depending on the architecture of the residential building and the personal preferences of its owners, the courtyard can be decorated in any style: Moorish, Japanese, country and even loft. The main thing is that the household members feel as comfortable as possible here.

Selection of patio plants

Trees. In some cases, in order to enjoy the pleasant coolness in the shade, it is enough to plant just one tree nearby with a dense and spreading crown. It can be linden, chestnut, maple or native Russian birch with drooping branches. One of the walls will be successfully replaced by a hedge of thuja or Christmas trees. Dwarf fruit plants: cherries, lemons, oranges, decorative apple trees feel great in voluminous tubs, they can be placed inside the courtyard, near the wall. nine0005

Shrubs. Large bushes of lilac, mock orange, elderberry, park roses will be an excellent alternative to tall trees. Medium-sized spireas, barberries, white turfs and vesicles, lined up in a row, will replace one of the walls, and at the same time play the role of a color accent due to the unusual color of their foliage. Small bushes of border roses, cinquefoil, weigels or even miniature conifers will perfectly fit into the patio area, fill it with bright colors and aromas.

Woody vines seem to be specially designed for vertical patio gardening. In the climate of Central Russia, powerful, unpretentious and very attractive vines are most often used: parthenocissus, hops, honeysuckle honeysuckle, actinidia kolomikta. Having fixed them on a solid trellis, in a year or two you can grow a real wall, impenetrable to prying eyes, protecting from wind and sun. And if you additionally build a strong horizontal trellis in the form of a canopy, the vines will quickly tighten it too, turning into a kind of roof. Blooming vines are stunningly beautiful: wisteria, climbing hydrangea, the same honeysuckle and clematis. Climbing roses can also be attributed to this group, although, of course, these are not creepers, and they cannot boast of a special length of lashes. But they bloom and smell just luxurious! nine0005

Herbaceous lianas in our climate are most widely represented by annual plants: morning glory, sweet pea, kobe, climbing nasturtium and some types of perennials, in which the aerial part of the plant dies off in autumn, and is reborn again in spring. They grow very quickly and do not require particularly strong supports.

Perennial and annual pot plants. Here the choice is simply huge! Almost any plant is suitable for the patio: flowering and decorative foliage, local or exotic, garden or indoor. You can grow fragrant herbs in containers and pots that look very picturesque, smell good and can be used for their intended purpose - as a seasoning for dishes cooked on fire. nine0005

Ampel plants. This group includes flowering and ornamental deciduous plants that form long drooping stems. They are placed on high stands or directly on the walls, allowing them to hang freely down, sometimes to the very ground. Tradescantia, lobelia, dichondra, petunia and many more very attractive species will be more than appropriate in the chamber patio interior.

A few tips on keeping and caring for plants

Plants in tubs and pots look the most harmonious in patio space. It is not worth placing them over the entire area, it is better to place them more compactly, observing the rule: in the foreground - undersized, in the background - larger ones. Bright, lush flowers should be diluted with deciduous plants, avoiding too colorful colors. nine0005

It is better to use thick-walled clay pots. They "breathe", protect the soil from overheating, well remove excess moisture. Wooden tubs must be hardwood only. Outside, they are covered with protective compounds or varnish, inside they are burned with a blowtorch.

Since patios are usually unroofed, plants can suffer from prolonged or frequent rain. To ensure the effective removal of excess moisture, a thick layer of drainage is poured onto the bottom of the pot: expanded clay, stones, broken bricks. nine0005

The opposite of precipitation is drought. The soil in pots dries out very quickly in hot weather, so you need to water the plants twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, combining this procedure with spraying the foliage.

It will be very useful for indoor plants to spend the summer in the fresh air, but first they need to adapt to new conditions: take them out for a while in the mornings and evenings, and after a couple of days put them completely outside.

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