Tips for Potted Trees

As we mentioned in our Garden Blog post “Which Trees Can Be Grown in Pots?”, quite a few small trees, exotic plants, topiary shrubs, and standard shrubs can be grown in pots or planters.

This is ideal, of course, if you have limited space in your yard, or if your yard consists mainly of a patio.

But what's the best way to care for a potted tree? How do you keep it looking beautiful and healthy? And how do you prevent a potted tree from falling over?

9 Tips for Growing Trees in Pots or Planters

• The larger the pot or planter, the better. Using a larger pot or planter makes it easier for the tree to absorb water and nutrients. It also gives the tree more room to develop its roots and grow. In addition, a larger pot is often heavier and more stable, making it less likely to tip over in strong winds.

• To prevent a pot from becoming too heavy to move, you can add hydro- or clay pellets to the bottom. In theory, this also helps with water absorption. In any case, it ensures better drainage.

• Place a flat stone or a broken piece of terracotta over the largest drainage hole to prevent the soil from falling out of the pot.

• Potted plants (and certainly trees as well) need to be watered more frequently so they don’t dry out. After all, the tree’s roots simply can’t reach the water supply in the open ground.

• In addition to extra water, potted plants also need extra fertilizer. Depending on the plant, this may be necessary at least two to three times a year. If you want the plant to bear fruit—as is the case with fruit trees—extra fertilizer is especially important.

• By placing pots on stands or a raised surface, you create additional drainage. This can certainly be beneficial for Mediterranean plants and exotic species, especially if these pots remain outside during the winter.

• In the summer, it may actually be a good idea to place a tray or dish under the pot for trees that shouldn't be allowed to dry out, so that there is enough water available for the tree for a longer period of time, allowing it to continue growing well.

• Make sure you don't fill the pot all the way to the rim with potting soil. By planting two to five centimeters below the rim, you'll prevent water from spilling over the edge too quickly. This makes it easier to water the plant sufficiently.

• A potted tree usually grows a little more slowly and often remains a little smaller than its counterparts planted in the ground.

Which trees can be grown in a pot?

View the (fairly) complete overview