Miniature Trees: Summer's Green In All Four Seasons

When Labor Day passes, I regret that summer has almost faded. But thinking ahead to the beauty of upcoming seasons helps.

Autumn is ideal for planting trees that enliven each season. In the past, I planted a lovely Birch at this time, with the help of heavy equipment. It is now tall and strong, in return for that hard work. But when I desire year-round color and fragrance, dug in with nothing more than a hand-held shovel, I opt for dwarf evergreens. These miniature trees retain their needles, maintain their shape and rich color, and emit fragrance that conjures up warm memories.

The key to success with autumn-planted trees is regular—I might venture to say “heavy”—watering. Given the right planting site and good hydration to carry them through winter, miniature trees take hold and please the gardener who wants to ensure the landscape is forever dotted with green.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce is a favorite. Its name, indicating origin, hints at how well this tree fares in cold climates. It knows cold. It can handle cold. Some varieties grow bigger than others, so gardeners must select carefully. But these miniature trees need little pruning to retain their conical effect. This holds true even for those that take the form of the most perfect tiny Christmas trees one could imagine. 

I use this cold-tolerant dwarf tree as a singular focal piece amid sizable rocks I have added to the landscape. (For these rocks, I need the help of equipment more formidable than a shovel, but it is worth it.) I create outdoor vignettes that include unfailing greenery, a rock backdrop, and seasonal plantings such as Mums and Asters in autumn and Crocuses and Daffodils in spring. These vignettes are most effective in corners of my yard, where they nestle in quite naturally. 

Jean’s Dilly Christmas Tree, a specimen I love, has a manageably sized root ball. I use the same method of planting one of these miniature trees that I use for most trees:

• Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball;
• Soak the planting site with water, and let the water drain to be sure the tree will not be plagued by standing water;
• Position the tree so the top of the root ball is level with the soil; and
• Backfill, tamp, and water more.

I water miniature trees like this deeply each week between the time of planting and the time I shut off my outdoor water supply, and more lightly on a near-daily basis. Faithful watering now and late into fall primes the miniature trees to retain moisture, even when faced with the drying effect of chill winds. Next spring, once my garden hose gets hooked up to its water supply again, I will continue to give this Spruce frequent drinks. In fact, I will douse it completely, just in case spruce spider mites have taken an interest in my perfectly shaped emerald gem. If they have, I will spray them free.

For friends who prefer a looser look to their evergreens, Dwarf Hemlocks enchant. Some varieties cascade low to the ground, almost like groundcover, while others are upright miniature trees with flowy evergreen foliage.

Also in the world of miniature trees is Lemon Cypress, perfect for containers. Conical forms of this citrus-scented, lemon-lime specimen are fun to grow in multiples in a window box, lined up like soldiers. But I have had better luck growing these in larger containers where roots can spread out and hard freeze is less likely. Upon arrival from the greenhouse, I fluff the roots and plant these miniature trees in holes as large as containers allow. Here again, early watering is key.

Summer’s farewell can be sweetened by taking on a task or two that will add healthy green to fall, winter, and beyond. Planting miniature trees is one of those tasks.