Containers aren't just for annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and shrubs. The fact is, trees do well in pots too, as long as you pick the right pot and the right tree. Paul James, host of HGTV's
Gardening by the Yard, shares his secrets:
Finding the Perfect Match
You need a rugged pot if you're going to leave it outside year-round. The pot doesn't have to be big; however, the size of the tree will determine the size of the pot. Plant large trees in large pots and small trees in small pots. Larger pots are relatively expensive, so if you plan on purchasing one, make sure it's able to withstand the elements. You have the option of moving smaller trees and containers indoors to overwinter, but large trees and pots will remain outside year-round.
If you live in an area where temperatures drop several degrees below freezing during the winter months, choose something other than terra-cotta pots--they will crack. Some versions of Mexican and Chinese pottery also crack in cold weather. Durable pots are available in many forms at garden centers, or you can ask for double-fired pots--they come with a lifetime guarantee. You can also consider plastic.
Your pot should have at least one drain hole. If it doesn't, carefully make one with a drill and masonry bit, and add more if you think you need them.
Weight is probably the most limiting factor of all. A durable pot may be so heavy that you can't lift it by yourself. Add to that the weight of the soil and tree, and you may be talking about moving something that weighs several hundred pounds. For that reason, it's important to make sure the pot is where you want it before you begin to plant your tree or be prepared to get some help moving it.
Make sure that the surface your pot sits on will support its weight. Wooden decks may not be strong enough and paved surfaces--especially decking around pools--can crack a lot easier than you might think.
Potting the Tree
- Place a piece of screen on the inside of the pot over the drain hole or holes.
- Add some potting mix and position the tree at the right depth. Use a soil-based potting mix and make sure the mix drains well. Try to find a mix with equal proportions of compost, shredded bark, leaf mold and sand. The compost and organic matter will help keep soil microbes active.
- Continue filling the pot and adjusting the tree so that it stands straight.
Watering and Fertilizing
Trees in pots must be watered well. Keep the soil evenly moist, and remember to fertilize regularly--say, every two or three weeks--during the growing season, because nutrients leach out quickly from containers. Organic mulch such as pine bark can help nourish the tree as well as conserve moisture. James always uses compost tea (a handful of compost steeped in water for an hour or two) to replenish the plant with nutrients.
Ideal Container Trees
The list of plants that thrive in containers is long and includes deciduous and evergreen trees:
- Alberta spruce
- all fruit trees
- American holly
- bottlebrush
- Carolina silverbell
- Chinese dogwood
- crabapples
- crape myrtle
- ginkgo
- hawthorn
- Hinoki cypress
- Japanese black pine
- Japanese maple
- junipers
- redbud
- river birch
- serviceberry
- smoke tree
- sourwood
- star magnolia
- 'Tanyosho Compacta' pine (a dwarf form of Japanese red pine also called Pinus densiflora 'Umbraculifera Compacta')
- white fringetree
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