3 Trees for London Balconies, London National Park City Week

The inspiration for this article, entitled 3 Trees for London Balconies, was the first ever London National Park City Week. This takes place 21st – 29th July 2018. I’ve given you some more information on London National Park City Week and London as a National Park City at the end.

For me, choosing only 3 trees for London balconies is the problem. There are a number of trees that will live quite happily in a large container for some years. However, the size of that container and combined weight of soil and tree means you would need to check the structural strength of your large balcony or roof terrace before growing them.

The 3 trees I have chosen will all suit small and large balconies. Although there is the caveat that it depends on how big they are when you buy them, and for how long you keep them.

3 Trees for London Balconies – Lemon Tree

Well obviously this one has to be included – gin and tonic, anyone? Strictly speaking any citrus tree would be lovely in a pot on a warm sunny balcony, although lemons seem to be a shade more tolerant of cool northern climates.

One of the beauties of growing lemon trees is that not only do you get to pick and use the fruit, but you’ll enjoy the sweet scent of the lemon blossom too. Both at the same time, as citrus trees have immature fruit, mature fruit and flowers all growing on the tree.

Lemon trees, Citrus limon, are easier to grow than you might have thought. Yes, they’re a Mediterranean plant, but they’ve been grown in Britain since the seventeenth century. Queen Mary, daughter of James II of England, VI of Scotland, had many citrus trees in pots in her Exotic Garden at Hampton Court Palace. They would be displayed outside during the summer months and wheeled inside for the winter; into the Orangery, of course… And that is what you could do with your lemon tree on your sunny London balcony. Enjoy it outside in the summer and bring it in over winter.

Caring for your Lemon Tree

Inside
This is during winter, more precisely when the night-time temperature drops to near freezing. Lemon trees in the ground may be hardy in London, but in a pot the roots are more exposed
Keep the tree away from radiators and drafts, but it will need light
Less watering than during the summer
Fruit will continue to ripen on the tree
Can feed with a winter citrus feed

Outside
On the balcony spring, summer, autumn, depending on the warmth of the season
Citrus trees are evergreen
Feed with a summer citrus feed, roughly once a week
Keep well-watered, the top soil should be dry before you water, but ensure the tree is not sitting in water

3 Trees for London Balconies – Bay Tree

Another edible for our balcony, although you can treat it as purely ornamental. Buy your Bay tree as a quarter standard lollipop so it has a clear stem and a full sphere of leaf on top. This is decorative and traditional for small balconies. The larger your balcony, the bigger the plant you could have, ie a half standard or standard tree. Whilst you could buy a small Bay tree and train it yourself, there’s no harm in going with the ‘instant garden’.

The Bay tree, Laurus nobilis, has evergreen, aromatic leaves which have been used in cooking for hundreds of years. Fresh leaves used directly in cooking have a strong flavour. If this is too much for you, try using in a slow cooked casserole, where there’s time for the flavours to mingle together

A firm favourite in Roman gardens in Italy, they were certainly grown in Britain from the time of the Roman occupation. For those of you with balconies high up above the London skyline, it may be comforting to known that Bay trees are supposed to protect you from lightening strikes.

Caring for your Bay Tree

In the ground Bay trees are hardy. In a pot they are more susceptible to the elements.
They will tolerate some shade
They are not keen on harsh winds – so you may need to have mesh between your Bay tree and the prevailing wind
Keep them watered in the summer but be sure they’re not standing in water
Feed during the growing season
Reduce the watering over winter but not so they dry out
If frosts are suspected, it’s advisable to wrap the pot in bubble wrap to help insulate the roots

3 Trees for London Balconies – Golden Elder

Those who know me well were probably expecting a quince or peach as my third tree. And I was tempted. But the Golden Elder, Sambucus nigra ‘Aurea’ still provides an edible crop.

A deciduous tree, it has such glorious golden foliage to contrast with the glossy green of the Laurel that I could not resist. The opening leaves inspiring are a joy to watch unfurling. Then umbels – flat cakes – of small, creamy, scented flowers follow. Leave the flowers alone and you’ll have bees and butterflies feasting. Then in the late summer purple-black elderberries form. You can eat these raw, but they’re far tastier cooked with apple in a crumble!

Sambucus nigra ‘Aurea’ is a British native and, unlike the other two trees tolerates exposed windy sites. Which in all honesty, is what your London balcony garden might be! For a fancier specimen, try Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’ which has more delicate foliage and dark red berries.

For more on Quince trees, check out the link below.

Caring for your Golden Elder

Whilst tolerant of wind and rain, do remember that your tree is in a pot not in the ground
Water during summer, do not let it dry out, if prefers more moisture than our other two trees
You may need to lightly prune your Elder to keep it to a pleasant shape and size
Feed during the growing season

3 Trees for London Balconies – inspired by the first London National Park City Week, 21st – 29th July 2018. This is the first focus of a series of events in the lead up to London becoming a National Park City in July 2019. A list of the events can be found here

A National Park City is not the same as a National Park but has similar values. For London this is to recognise urban habitats and landscapes, and the positive contributions that all those people living within the Greater London Area can make to creating a better place for humans, plants and animals to live. I will return to this topic to explain it more to you. It could be the start of a network of National Park Cities across the UK.

But for now, enjoy sitting on your balcony, enjoying the view of your trees and other trees against the background of tall office buildings. And why not read some of our other blogs while you’re there, check out our monthly Tipsheet and find us on Instagram and Facebook?

If you would like help in creating an orchard, a kitchen garden, an English cottage garden or an urban jungle on your balcony or roof terrace, do please get in touch.