How to Plant a Tree in a Container

Trees that have been established in containers add beauty and enjoyment to both outdoor and indoor environments. Many trees are suited for life in a container. You can grow many exotic species that couldn't otherwise survive in your area, simply by planting them in containers.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Young tree
• Large container
• Large-mesh screen
• Gravel
• Potting soil
• Fertilizer

1. Select the tree. Make sure that the tree is suited to your climate, or that you have a means of protecting it during harsh weather, such as putting it in a greenhouse or indoor location. It should also be slow-growing and small enough to fit in your container.

2. Choose your container. You want a container big enough to support the root system of your tree. Sterilize the container before using it with a solution of one-part bleach to ten-parts water. It also must have good drainage. Place a large mesh screen at the bottom of the pot to keep the soil from washing through the drain holes. Place an inch or 2 of gravel over the screen.

3. Loosen the roots. For a bare root tree, rinse off any packing material and soak the roots in a bucket of water for several hours. If your tree roots are wrapped in burlap, remove any metal or plastic from the tree, but keep the burlap in place for now.

4. Add soil. This should be a soil mix specifically for container gardening. Soil from your garden will be too heavy to drain well and may contain diseases and weed seeds. Packing it down gently as you go, add enough soil so that when you set the bottom of the root ball down on the soil, the top of the root ball will be even with the final level of the soil.

5. Place the tree in the container. For a burlap-balled tree, place the tree directly in the container, and then cut away the burlap from around the roots. If it's a bare root tree, build up a small mound (about 5 inches) of soil in the middle of the container before placing the tree roots on top of it. Spread the roots out over the mound.

6. Fill the container with soil. Gently pack the soil around the roots of the tree, watering as you go to prevent air pockets from forming. Add soil until the entire root ball is covered, up to the point were the roots meet the trunk of the tree.

7. Add fertilizer. Use a fertilizer that is recommended for your tree. Using a slow-release fertilizer that only needs to be added once a year can work well.

8. Stake the tree. Give your new tree the support it needs to thrive. When attaching the tree to the stake, use a material made for this purpose that won't bind the tree.

Tips & Warnings

• A few trees that are perfect for container growing are several varieties of dwarf evergreen, the Japanese maple and the eastern redbud.
• Plant your tree when it will have a chance to get established before severe weather arrives (either too hot or too cold), if it is to be kept outdoors year around.
• The container should be up off the ground or other surface so that water can drain effectively. Setting it on uneven stones or bricks will provide sufficient drainage. Just make sure that it is supported.
• Don't overwater your container tree, but at the same time be aware that it can dry out quickly.
• You may need another person to hold your tree once it's in the container and you're filling the container with soil.
• Make sure your tree has just the right amount of sunshine. Be aware of the needs of your particular tree, and adjust accordingly. A wheeled stand for your container makes moving it to the right spot a breeze.