Hi, I’m new to home owning and gardening. We have a very small backyard with no soil/grass etc (concrete). I’ve always wanted a tree, preferably a Lilac/jasmin (or similar good smelling tree) or a fruit tree. Is it feasible and do you have a recommendation on what tree is best? It would need to be in a pot or container and stay outside all year long.
luiza.monteiro@ontario.ca; 416-700-7987
Hello, welcome to the world of gardening and thanks for contacting us about finding a suitable tree for a pot to be placed in your concrete-covered backyard.
It’s so great that you want to grow something out there, as concrete can create a heat effect that contributes to climate change and makes it less pleasant to be in the yard.
It is quite difficult to recommend trees without knowing how much light you have in your yard, or how much space you have for a container.
I suggest first that you figure out where you would like to have the container, and what size you wish it to be. For a small tree, the container should be at minimum 24″ wide and deep, but preferably bigger, especially on the depth side. A deeper container will also increase the height of your tree, providing more shade.
Then assess the amount of light. Full sun = 6-8 hours of sun per day; partial sun/shade = 4-6 hours; full shade = 2-4 hours of sun or less. Very little will thrive with less than 2 hours of sun. Place a cardboard box or other object where the container will be and then assess and record how much light would be available for the tree.
You also want to pick a small tree because the roots will eventually start circling around in the container and cause the tree to strangle; a smaller tree will take much longer to do this, and be easier to lift out of the container for eventual root pruning (don’t be scared of this; it only requires some strength and not a lot of expertise and there is so much help).
You will also have to figure out how the tree will be watered over time – is there easy water access; could you run a hose (temporary or permanent) to help with watering? A bigger container will mean deeper but less frequent watering
I realize you spoke of a deciduous tree (lilac; jasmine; fruit) but do you need any privacy over the fall to spring months – so might an evergreen be preferable?
The above is not an exhaustive list of considerations.
We have a lot of resources on our website (torontomastergardeners.ca). I suggest you use them as your starting point. You could start with the first guide listed below on container gardening and then go from there. I’ve also included a couple of links to other guides, and similar questions we’ve answered. There are many links inside the links. It can be easy to become overwhelmed. Start with a list of what is non-negotiable for you, then with maybes and then what you think would work. Then refine further.
There are also additional resources on other websites I’ve included below; please keep in mind that they may be talking about growing in conditions and climate zones different from ours.
For the sake of plant hardiness over winter most of Toronto is Canadian Zone 6b in the ground. To overwinter in a container, you need to look for plants hardy to two zones colder than ours (i.e. Canadian Zone 4; which is the equivalent of US Zone 3 – the US zones are currently higher by one digit than the Canadian ones). Containers do not have the benefit of below-ground insulation and snow, and are subject to more wind which can dry out the roots over winter. So also consider whether your yard is protected (by other back yards or fences/trees) vs exposed.
Best of luck with your efforts to claim some green space for your yard. Concrete need not be limiting, especially a new home where you’re focusing first on tailoring the inside to your tastes. Once you start with a tree, you may discover a whole world of things you can grow in pots and end up with an oasis!
Toronto Master Gardener Resources
Container Gardening: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide
Planting a Tree for Life: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide
https://www.torontomastergardeners.ca/askagardener/what-trees-can-survive-over-winter-on-balcony/
Tall narrow container trees – preferably native
Overwintering Ornamental Trees in Pots
Other websites:
I would like recommendations for planting small trees in very large containers in front of a library (Michigan State University extension)
Best Trees to Grow in Pots (Gardeners World – UK)