Small backyards may be the last place you would think of planting a tree. But, in urbanized areas, backyards (even the small ones) are some of the best places to plant. Planting a small growing species would still provide many of the economic, environmental, and health benefits of trees without overwhelming your space. That said, the best species to plant in your backyard depends on your yard’s soil conditions and sunlight exposure, so be sure to check both before you plant to ensure you get the right tree in the right place!
For sunny spaces: the smooth serviceberry or grey dogwood may be best suited for your yard.
The smooth serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis) is a tree found in most Canadian provinces. Reaching a height of approximately 15 feet, it is considered a three-season interest tree. In the spring, it produces showy, white flowers before the leaves, followed by sweet, edible berries rich in iron and copper in the summer, and closes the year with striking fall colour that ranges from golden yellow to orange, to red.
The grey dogwood (Cornus racemosa) is a hardy tree, to say the least. In French, it is known as cornouiller à grappes- the word grappe means a cluster of fruits or flowers, which refers to the tree’s notable clusters of white flowers that emerge in early summer followed by white berries that emerge in mid-summer. The fruit pedicel, or stalk that holds the berries, remains red into the late fall and early winter. While these berries are not edible for humans, they do provide food for our beloved songbirds.
For shady spaces: the pagoda dogwood or blue-beech may be best suited for your yard.
The pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) is often used as an ornamental tree for its bountiful white flowers, its brilliant scarlet fall leaves, and its deep purple berries. The tree’s unique horizontal branching resembles that of the pagoda, a tiered tower of worship found in Asian architecture. It is also the only dogwood that has an alternate branching system- all others have opposite!
Don’t let the name mislead you, the blue beech (Carpinus caroliniana) is actually part of the birch family. However, the charm of this tree, as alluded to in its French name charme de caroline, is often overlooked. The combination of its beautiful fall colour and striking, slate-grey, smooth bark makes this an ideal small tree for any backyard space. In addition, the buds, flower clusters, and seeds of this tree provide food for wildlife, such as birds and squirrels.
If you have a small backyard, consider planting a small-growing, native tree through LEAF at a subsidized cost and enjoy all the benefits of trees! Check out the LEAF Backyard Tree Planting Program's to see if you meet our program requirements.
If your yard does not meet our spacing requirements, we have a wide variety of native shrubs that can help beautify your small space. Consider the small yard native shrub bundle, which includes the lowbush blueberry, St. John’s wort, meadowsweet, and the common snowberry. These shrubs do well in small spaces while also adding to your backyard biodiversity.
The Backyard Tree Planting Program is supported by the City of Toronto, the Regional Municipality of York, the City of Markham, the Town of Newmarket, the Town of Ajax, Toronto Hydro and Ontario Power Generation.