I've got a silver birch in a pot. I bought a number of different packets of birch seeds from Chiltern seeds a few years ago but only the common one grew. Its in its third year and still looks pretty in a 12 inch pot with blue lobelia growing around it. I think next year will be its last year before I start again. Its about 2 ft tall just now.
I have a beautiful Acer in a pot which I bought as a spindly twig (almost!) for £2.99 from Morrison's. It's done brilliantly in a pot and now a good 3 feet tall. I see them the same size for £40+ in the garden centre. Just needed a bit of nurturing during the first year.
I'm having success at present with a Japanese maple (Garnet), and with an olive tree which seems to be very happy after a couple of years on my balcony. I'm also having a go at a standard bay, which looks good so far!
There was a gardening feature on TV a while ago about a rooftop garden (in London, I think) and there were mature trees growing in just a foot of soil. The presenter was stunned. They were, though, tended by professional gardeners.
We have all probably seen 5 - 6 foot olive trees growing in 6 inch pots in garden centres and the like. Cruel I call it!
My potted eucalyptus (inherited from anther gardener) lasted about 5 years, but was too big even in a large pot on a sunny patio and was dying to get out.
however, my acer palmatum is very happy in its pot in semi shade, sheltered and I have put two olive tees in post on my sunny patio and they love it. They like poor soil (in Greece they often grow in the sand), are very slow growing and don't mind some drought either. Need to be fee draining though and will appreciate a mulch and feed in spring.
Sort of depends on what aspect your garden is and how sheltered it is too.
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I've got a silver birch in a pot. I bought a number of different packets of birch seeds from Chiltern seeds a few years ago but only the common one grew. Its in its third year and still looks pretty in a 12 inch pot with blue lobelia growing around it. I think next year will be its last year before I start again. Its about 2 ft tall just now.
I have a beautiful Acer in a pot which I bought as a spindly twig (almost!) for £2.99 from Morrison's. It's done brilliantly in a pot and now a good 3 feet tall. I see them the same size for £40+ in the garden centre. Just needed a bit of nurturing during the first year.
All depends on if you want instant effect!
I think it depends a lot on the type of tree!
I'm having success at present with a Japanese maple (Garnet), and with an olive tree which seems to be very happy after a couple of years on my balcony. I'm also having a go at a standard bay, which looks good so far!
There was a gardening feature on TV a while ago about a rooftop garden (in London, I think) and there were mature trees growing in just a foot of soil. The presenter was stunned. They were, though, tended by professional gardeners.
We have all probably seen 5 - 6 foot olive trees growing in 6 inch pots in garden centres and the like. Cruel I call it!
My potted eucalyptus (inherited from anther gardener) lasted about 5 years, but was too big even in a large pot on a sunny patio and was dying to get out.
however, my acer palmatum is very happy in its pot in semi shade, sheltered and I have put two olive tees in post on my sunny patio and they love it. They like poor soil (in Greece they often grow in the sand), are very slow growing and don't mind some drought either. Need to be fee draining though and will appreciate a mulch and feed in spring.
Sort of depends on what aspect your garden is and how sheltered it is too.