Growing Ginkgo: Elegant Trees for Your Backyard Oasis

Why Growing Ginkgo is Worth the Wait

The first time I planted a Ginkgo biloba sapling, I was twenty-two and impatient. Today, decades later, that once-spindly sapling towers gracefully, its fan-shaped leaves shimmering gold each autumn.

Patience rewards gardeners abundantly when growing Ginkgo. These ancient trees have survived millions of years—if dinosaurs once munched on their leaves, clearly they're tough enough for backyard cultivation.

Choosing the Right Ginkgo for Your Space

Before planting, select the right cultivar—this will shape your gardening experience profoundly. Some Ginkgos grow mighty and tall, others gracefully columnar.

If your yard is compact, opt for varieties like 'Princeton Sentry', which stays slender and vertical, perfect to frame a walkway or line a driveway. Larger spaces beg for classic specimens like 'Autumn Gold' with its sprawling arms and vivid amber leaves.

Picking Out the Perfect Spot for Ginkgo Trees

Ginkgos are tough survivors, adapting beautifully even to polluted city air, but they thrive best in full sunshine. Give your tree ample sunlight to flourish, ideally at least six hours per day.

Ensure your site drains freely. Though these trees tolerate various soils—from sandy to clay—they despise prolonged dampness and soggy roots.

"Healthy roots demand breathing room. If your drainage lacks, improve soil structure by mixing in compost and grit generously before planting."

Planting Your Ginkgo — Timing and Technique

I recommend planting young Ginkgos during cooler months, preferably in autumn or early spring. This gives roots sufficient time to establish without the heat stress of summer bearing down.

To plant effectively, follow these straightforward steps:

1. Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball.
2. Gently loosen roots, placing them comfortably within the hole.
3. Backfill with soil, firming it gently to eliminate air pockets.
4. Water deeply after planting, establishing good root-to-soil contact.
5. Mulch generously to retain moisture and moderate soil temperature, but keep mulch several inches from the trunk to prevent rot.

Maintaining Your Ginkgo Through the Years

This tree requires minimal maintenance—perfect for gardeners like me who prefer observation over interference. Regular deep watering during prolonged drought is helpful in the earliest years; once established, Ginkgos are remarkably drought-tolerant.

Prune minimally. Remove damaged or crossed limbs while the tree is dormant in winter, but otherwise allow the tree its natural, elegant branching structure, which develops beautifully over decades.

A Word on Female Ginkgo Trees

One minor word of caution: female Ginkgo trees bear fruit that smells notoriously unpleasant—like rancid butter.

Most nurseries sell exclusively male trees to circumvent this aromatic inconvenience. Double-check your cultivar to avoid accidental surprises down the road.

Watching Your Backyard Ginkgo Mature

Growing Ginkgo is a long-term investment, one measured in beauty rather than speed. Witnessing my own Ginkgo's transformation—from twig to towering grandeur—has offered decades of quiet satisfaction and seasonal drama.

Each autumn, as the leaves blaze electric gold, neighbors pause and stare. And each autumn, I'm quietly grateful for planting it when I did.

"Plant a Ginkgo today not only for your enjoyment, but as a generous act for generations to come."

Growing Ginkgo brings an ancient, timeless quality to your personal green space. This graceful survivor—hardy, adaptable, and nearly immortal—shines as a living fossil in your backyard. Offer it sunlight, ample space, and patience; the reward is a striking, golden autumn display and resilient shade for generations to come. Cultivating a ginkgo is a deliberate dialogue with deep botanical history, connecting you subtly yet profoundly to nature's quiet resilience.