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Moving Toona Sinensis advice needed
iamjowilson
Posts: 67
in Plants
I bought a toona sinensis last year and planted it at the end of my garden which is very exposed and pretty poor soil. I realise that this was not the right place to site it and am considering moving it to a large container so that it could sit on my sheltered terrace, at least for a few years.
I am intending to crop it for its edible shoots, so it will be kept relatively small, and I am wondering if I could keep it in a container indefinitely. I’m also wondering what size of container I need - can I put it into a small 30cm wide by 40cm tall pot initially or if it would be better to put it into a huge one straight away.
I’m also moving it because I’ve decided I want to plant a willow fedge along the back of the garden as a windbreak, and I don’t think the two would co-exist nicely competing for water etc.
Does anyone have any knowledge of this tree and could offer advice? I think now, while it’s still dormant, would be the best time to move it?
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Edit
Just looked it up and it ends up a massive tree. Trees aren't for pots long term
And Toona Sinensis is listed here as a tree that tolerates coppicing https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=121
So I have gone ahead and ordered a medium sized pot and will move the tree when the pot arrives with reasonable confidence and much crossing of fingers and toes... I know that Toona is grown as a food crop in the Far East and aggressively coppiced to achieve this so I hope it’ll work. 😬😃
I suggest you contact www.airpot.com. Airpots are used by leading tree nurseries and places like Kew for growing trees in the short to medium term. The idea is simple. Small roots grow outwards towards the holes and exposure to the air prunes the roots. When it's time to plant out your tree, instead of roots spiralling around the pot as they would do in a traditional container, they are ready to grow outwards into the soil.
I think this may be your best best rather than a standard pot. I would ask their advice before you dig up your lovely tree.
I thought the chief problem with black pots is the fact that the magic eyes that scan items at recycling plants don't "see" black so the pots don't get recycled, hence the move to paler coloured ones.