Many lovely trees will grow well in a large container, enabling you to add height and structure to the smallest of spaces.
The ideal types of tree to grow in pots are slow-growing or dwarf varieties. Fruit trees are often sold grafted on to a rootstock that controls how big they eventually grow. For growing in containers, look for varieties described as ‘dwarfing’ – a ‘vigorous’ tree will grow too quickly to be happy in a pot, while an ‘extremely dwarfing’ tree will be too weak to cope in the confines of a pot.
You could also look for a multi-stemmed tree. Rather than a standard lollipop tree shape, these have several trunks growing from near the base, which reduces the overall height the tree will grow to.
After four or five years, most trees will need to be re-potted, either into a slightly larger pot or you can snip off some of the outer roots and replant into the same pot with fresh compost.
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Find out how to plant a tree in a pot, below.
Choose a frost-proof pot that is large and heavy, for stability. Part-fill with an equal mix of multi-purpose compost and John Innes No.3. Lightly firm the compost into the base of the pot.
Dunk the tree into a bucket of water to ensure the rootball is thoroughly soaked all the way through. Then take it out of the bucket, let it drain and remove the tree from its pot.
Tease apart some of the roots around the edges and base of the rootball with your fingers. Sprinkle mycorrhizal fungi granules over the damp roots, so that they stick to the surface.
Put the tree into the pot, so the top of the rootball is 2-3cm below the rim. Make sure it’s in contact with the compost underneath. Fill in around the sides with the compost mix, firming in well.
Cover the surface with a mulch of gravel or cobbles to help retain moisture in the compost and prevent weeds germinating.
Water well using an entire can – go slowly so it can soak into the compost. Repeat weekly from March to October, increasing to at least twice a week in very hot, dry weather.
Cut out any dead twigs with sharp secateurs. In spring or summer, thin out any stems that are growing close together. Most trees in pots benefit from soft growth being pruned by 10cm in July.
Feed with slow-release fertiliser granules once a year as it comes into growth in spring. Remove the mulch and sprinkle half a handful on top of the compost. Reapply the mulch. Water in well.
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