Container Garden Ideas for Small Spaces

Container gardening has gained significant popularity in recent times, yet it is not a novel concept. Individuals have been cultivating container plants for centuries, and there are universally favored varieties. One particularly popular “style” of container plant cultivation involves utilizing a shrubby or bush plant to emulate the appearance of a standard tree. To achieve this, a plant with a natural shrub-like growth habit is trained to develop as a miniature tree. This technique is less demanding than creating a bonsai, yet it yields similar outcomes. It enables the enjoyment of a diverse range of plants in smaller, more confined spaces, and it incorporates an element of artistry into indoor, balcony, and patio gardening endeavors.

Many people give up on gardening due to limited outdoor space. However, the ‘potting garden’ trend is changing this mindset. A potting garden involves arranging plants in various-sized pots in a visually appealing manner. Even a 1m x 1m area can yield a charming, expressive garden without soil, using only concrete. Compactly grouped pots simplify watering and allow easy rearrangement or plant replacement as they bloom and fade. This flexibility ensures a beautiful and vibrant garden year-round. Potting gardens are ideal for small spaces like doorways, balconies, or parking spaces, offering a practical and stylish solution for gardening enthusiasts.

Who Started the “Standard Tree” Tradition?

Unsurprisingly, this method of controlling and training ornamental plants began in Japan and China.
Because it is not as complex as keeping Bonsai, once “discovered” by western horticulturists, the practice quickly spread to France and England. The small, symmetrical container trees became very popular as decorations for patios, terraces, foyers, and greenhouses.

Strictly ornamental trees and small fruit-bearing trees, such as dwarf orange trees, were popular choices.
Initially, keeping a standard tree was considered something of a status symbol. Only wealthy people kept these “exotic plants.” However, it didn’t take long for everyday gardeners to pick up the technique and create their own attractive standard plants to adorn their entryways and outdoor seating areas.

Which Plants Do Best As Standards?

Many types of plants will do well when trained as small trees. Here are five of the most popular choices:

Fuchsia

Fuchsia is easy to grow and very luxuriant. Start it as a cutting from an upright variety to train it to stand straight. Once you have a small plant, train it with a stake to establish strong, straight stems. Prune and pinch back shoots and upstarts diligently throughout the first year, keeping only the topknot of growth you wish to encourage. 

When your plant has reached its desired height (during the second year) trim back the topknot and keep it trimmed to encourage more bushy growth.

Chrysanthemum frutescens

Chrysanthemum frutescens (Marguerite) is a small shrub. Treat it like a fuchsia. Trim and pinch back the topknot in late summer to encourage bushier growth. In spring, you’ll see a dense ball of green foliage, soon adorned with white flowers.

Roses

Various roses thrive as standards, but begin with wild stock and graft the desired type at the top. Start your wild rose bush (Rosa canina is a good choice) in the ground for the first year. Choose a promising stem, stake it to train it straight and strong, and trim back competition. Allow the rose to grow for a year, trimming all extraneous shoots. By the end of the first year, the chosen stem should be about half an inch thick. Graft the desired rosebud under the wild rose’s bark at about three feet, binding it with a rubber band. If outdoors, protect the graft during winter in colder climates.

Here are ideas for roses in shady gardens.

Preparing Roses For Winter

Before the cold weather arrives, dig a hole and trench on one side of the plant, remove its roots, and lay it down. Cover it with leaves, soil, and peat moss to protect it. When spring arrives and the risk of frost passes, uncover the tree and stake it to train it to grow straight. Trim wild rose shoots and pinch the grafted rose to encourage bushier growth. With good care, you should see blooms in the first year. Winterize the plant to protect the graft as you did the first year.

Dwarf Korean Lilac

Dwarf Korean Lilac plant can also be grafted onto a standard and grown similarly to a rose standard. In small tree form, it makes an excellent patio feature or garden accent.

Coffee Tree

To grow a standard coffee tree, you must begin with a mature plant from a nursery. Choose a small plant, no more than eight inches tall. Observe its shape and growth habits. A strong central stem is essential for achieving a taller, upright tree.

Coffee plants thrive in bright, indirect light, avoiding direct sunlight. Start by placing your plant in a comfortable location with adequate, nourishing light. Regularly pinch off lower leaves and shoots to discourage unwanted growth. Catch young shoots while they’re tender to prevent scarring from cutting back thicker stems. Continue pinching and trimming for a couple of years. Staking isn’t necessary as coffee plants grow straight and tall naturally. After two years, your mini-coffee tree will have shiny leaves and attractive coffee berries.

Other Good Choices For Standard Growing

• Red Hawthorn
• Dwarf Orange
• Oleander
• Camellia
• Wisteria
• Hibiscus
• Lantana
• Butterfly bush
• Azalea
• Broom
• Myrtle
• Laurel
• Ficus

How Do You Over-winter Container Standards?

This technique lets you enjoy non-hardy plants as attractive trees outdoors in spring and summer, then indoors in winter.

• Prepare your indoor garden area beforehand to quickly move tender plants indoors and settle them before the first frost. The main goal is to prevent freezing.
• Hardier plants can thrive on a sunny porch or bright room without excessive winter heating. They require ample light, sparse watering, and no fertilization during this period, allowing them to rest before spring.
• If your plants are tropical, keep them as houseplants in a heated environment with extra care during winter.

Before bringing your plants indoors for winter, prune them to help them fit better and look better. This also prepares them for healthy growth when spring arrives. As the days lengthen and the weather warms, gradually increase watering and feed them with water-soluble fertilizer appropriate for each plant.

When the weather consistently warms, harden off your plants while gradually move your plants outdoors. If they’re on a sun porch with open windows, let in fresh air on warmer days. Once frost is no longer a concern, start in a shaded, sheltered area and gradually move them to brighter, more exposed areas if desired.

What Growing Container Type Is Best?

Choosing the right container is crucial for your plant’s success. Select a container that provides proper support, anchors the plant, and complements its aesthetic value. Consider the plant’s size and weight, and choose a container with a diameter matching its \”drip-line\” to ensure stability. Opt for a style that enhances the plant’s appearance, with colours that harmonize rather than clash.

Standard Plants Bring Easy Elegance To Your Outdoor Setting

Creating standards is a great way to make an elegant and interesting garden, even with limited space. Container gardeners with small porches or balconies can enjoy beautiful plants with this artistic technique. It provides many of the aesthetic elements of bonsai without the long effort.