Can Gardeners World - or anyone - suggest a tree which I'd like to grow in a pot, & for it to remain in a pot. A tree which will get quite large. Possibly with lime green foliage. Would appreciate any suggestions.
I'm afraid growing trees in pots can be quite tricky. They need a lot more care than in the ground. It'll take a while for any tree to get to a reasonable size and spread, so what do you mean by 'large'?
Acers can be kept potted, and come in various foliage colours, but they're slow growing, and need the right care to do well.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you, Fairygirl! I was thinking of an Acer actually! (Palmatum Katsura, or Orange Blossom in fact). Although didn't realise they were slow growing. I'd like something to grow reasonably tall - say, up to 3 metres. And I'll buy one as tall as poss. Reason for keeping it in a pot? I've had the dreaded honey fungus in the beds ... & don't dare plant another tree where it's been. Maybe you could suggest something - you certainly seem knowledgeable. Have u really posted 44,512 times ?! Best rgds.
I was just wondering how big a pot would need to be to accommodate a 3 metre tree? If you started off with a tree the right size for the pot I am not sure how long it would be before it needed to go in the ground.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
If you want to buy an Acer of that size, you'll need a very big cheque book You'll also need to be able to look after it. That wouldn't be straightforward because of the need to keep the soil healthy, and it may need pruned - roots as well. It would be difficult to move around, should you need to do that, so you'd have to make sure it was in the right location to start with. The greeny/yellowy ones are a bit more susceptible to sun damage too, especially the dissectums, because of the nature of the foliage.
Easier to get a smaller one and wait for it to grow. Even ones at around a metre are expensive though.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sadly I also think a pot could be just as expensive. Guess there is someone on the forum who could give you advice on their experiences with Honey Fungus .May be they could offer help?
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
There are some trees and shrubs that are not susceptible to honey fungus or, at least, less susceptible to it. The RHS publishes this list - chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rhs.org.uk%2Fadvice%2Fpdfs%2Fhoney-fungus-host-list.pdf&clen=505684&chunk=true&pdffilename=Honey-fungus-host-list.pdf
I'd consult that and choose a tree that can go in teh ground and look after itself - once established - rather than risk spending a great deal of money on a decent sized pot and an expensive tree that might well fail just because growing them in pots is so much more difficult for them and requires a certain amount of care and skill from teh gardener.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
If you have a sheltered, shady location, a tree fern would happily tolerate living in a container, requiring limited root space. However, they are slow growing and large specimens are expensive to buy and usually require protection over winter. A fig tree would also be suitable for a container, in a sunny location, but it is not evergreen.
Something like Taxus baccata 'Standishii' might fit the bill for foliage colour, and could be planted in the ground, as Yew is one of the trees most resistant to honey fungus. 'Fastigiata aurea' is similar, but a bit wider in growth, I think.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Rhus typhina 'Tiger's Eyes' has limey/golden foliage (with crimson Autumn colour) and is ideal for a large pot, being a relatively dwarf variety and very tough.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
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It'll take a while for any tree to get to a reasonable size and spread, so what do you mean by 'large'?
Acers can be kept potted, and come in various foliage colours, but they're slow growing, and need the right care to do well.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If you started off with a tree the right size for the pot I am not sure how long it would be before it needed to go in the ground.
You'll also need to be able to look after it. That wouldn't be straightforward because of the need to keep the soil healthy, and it may need pruned - roots as well. It would be difficult to move around, should you need to do that, so you'd have to make sure it was in the right location to start with.
The greeny/yellowy ones are a bit more susceptible to sun damage too, especially the dissectums, because of the nature of the foliage.
Easier to get a smaller one and wait for it to grow. Even ones at around a metre are expensive though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rhs.org.uk%2Fadvice%2Fpdfs%2Fhoney-fungus-host-list.pdf&clen=505684&chunk=true&pdffilename=Honey-fungus-host-list.pdf
I'd consult that and choose a tree that can go in teh ground and look after itself - once established - rather than risk spending a great deal of money on a decent sized pot and an expensive tree that might well fail just because growing them in pots is so much more difficult for them and requires a certain amount of care and skill from teh gardener.