Tips and Tricks for Container Gardening With Conifers

Learn how to keep your tree happy and healthy in a pot for many years

Container gardeningis stark for anyone confined to a balcony or deck of cards and is also a wonderful way to total coloring , proportion , and versatility to any landscape , declamatory or small . We all know that a well - plant , well - placed containercan make an spectacular garden accent or wearing apparel uppatios , decks , entryway , andwindowsillsto perfection . There ’s an art to container gardening — techniques and trick to ensure that your container - grown plants expand . Temporarily , you may make almost any industrial plant work in almost any container , but for long - term success it ’s crucial to combine the right plant with the right pot , to work out with your choose plant life ’ growth wont , and to abide by each plant ’s vulnerability , soil , and watering preferences . Container gardening withconifersis no exclusion .

Knowing what your tree call for and being dictated to allow for it , you could constitute any conifer in a container , but grow a full - size specimen presents a phone number of challenge . To begin with , you ’ll want to repot it every two year into an even larger container , or you ’ll have to see how to root - prune or even bonsai it to restrict its growth . Most conifer devotee be given to give up when faced with the emphasis of keeping a vigorous , full - size tree happy in a pot , almost invariably planting it out in the landscape within two or three years . But there is a better path !

Opt for dwarf specimens over full-size varieties

Offering the same colour , texture , sculptural form , and evergreen plant beauty as their full - size counterparts , slow - grow miniature anddwarf conifersallow for a more stress - free room to garden in containers . They also require a lower - maintenance approach and control achiever both for the conifer itself and for the gardener . Most dwarf conifers produce so slowly that they can thrive for many years before outgrowing their original container . There ’s currently a dazzling survival of the fittest of dwarf conifers available in an array of gorgeous chromaticity and in forms rank from subdued , rounded globes to narrow , inflexible , erect spires . I ’ve pin down the theatre to my top five weft below . flux any one of them with your own best-loved container , trace these simple turn summit , and you too can appear onward to many years ofevergreenenjoyment .

‘Golden Mop’ threadleaf cypress

‘ favorable Mop ’ threadleaf cypress tree ( Chamaecyparispisifera‘Golden Mop ’ , Zones 5–7 ) has threadlike golden foliage that beam outward from the center . This well - behaved , compact , scurvy , mound bush is fabulous in the landscape or a large container ; it adds vibrant color and soft , tangible texture anywhere it ’s grown . sit in sun to partial shade ( it sustain its people of colour well in full sun ) , this ravisher will gain 6 to 8 metrical foot tall and broad at maturity .

‘Cole’s Prostrate’ Canadian hemlock

‘ Cole ’s Prostrate ’ Canadian hemlock ( Tsugacanadensis‘Cole ’s Prostrate ’ , Zones 3–7 ) drape itself over the edges of the perfect plenty . A tough , easy - growing coniferous tree with a cascading habit , it ultimately reach 6 inches tall and 3 to 4 foot wide . good to grow it in afternoon shade in NorCal .

Blue prostrate noble fir

Blue prostrate noble fir ( Abies procera‘Glauca Prostrata ’ , Zones 5–7 ) is dim to touch its ultimate size of it of 3 base improbable and 6 feet wide . With its steely , blue - green foliage bear on semi - spreading , semi - upright , highly stalwart branches , it is a beauty . Make statement in full Sunday ( with diligent tearing ) , or for a more tenseness - spare experience , develop it in good afternoon shade .

‘Picola’ Japanese umbrella pine

‘ Picola ’ Japanese umbrella true pine ( Sciadopitysverticillata‘Picola ’ , Zones 4–9 ) is stunning , with a obtuse , upright , conical growth habit and little branches that carry attractive whorls of long , shiny , dark green needles . Slow - growing , measuring just 4 foot grandiloquent and 3 animal foot all-encompassing at maturity , it can tolerate sun but does better in afternoon shade in warmer region .

‘Jean’s Dilly’ dwarf Alberta spruce

Create a miniature forest of ‘ Jean ’s Dilly ’ dwarf Alberta spruce ( Piceaglauca‘Jean ’s Dilly ’ , Zones 3–6 ) by planting multiples in one Brobdingnagian container . This is a lovely upright piano , conical conifer with impenetrably dense , delicately - textured , greenish foliage . With such a deadening growth rate ( at maturity , it arrive at just 3 metrical unit tall ) , it may never need repotting . It does good when shadow from the hottest summer sun but wait fabulous in any exposure when dress up winter holiday porches or entryways .

Pick the right container

When choosing a pot for your tree , consider the fledged size of it of your conifer and both the current and future size of its root system . Pick a container proportional to the tree ’s current size ( doubly as broad and 50 % deeper is a skillful formula of thumb ) , but with adequate root space for at least three eld of growth . Too gravid a pot ends up causing almost as much worry as one too small . In warmer region of Northern California , the container ’s color is also important , with a lighter - dark-skinned container preferred because of its heating - reflection quality . This facilitate asseverate the cool dirt ( and thus root ) temperatures favored by dwarf conifers . Good drainage is vital , so ensure that the container has ample drainage hole .

Not just any soil will do

The soil should be loamy , humus - rich , and slightly acidic ( a barque - base potting grime is ideal ) . It should hold decent moisture yet drain well . I make my own potting mix for container - grown conifers and have achieved consistent succeeder using 5 parts high - quality organicpotting soilmixed well with 1 part okay true fir bark . Mulching is always a upright idea and will help keep the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree cooler and weed spare . It will also assist in wet retention .

Keep the water and the fertilizer light

When arise in pots , conifers ( like all container - grown plants ) require a even watering schedule throughout the year , with extra diligence during the growing season , rut waves , and dry periods . During the growing time of year , apply a weak ( quarter - strength ) resolution of well - balanced , body of water - soluble fertilizerto the soil surrounding your dwarf conifer every four to six weeks . Alternatively , a yearly covering of a 2- to 3 - inch stratum of constitutive compost in bound will serve keep your tree felicitous .

A little bit of shade will be most appreciated

Though most conifers are said to prefer full sun , I ’ve regain that in the warmer region ofNorthern California , a container - grow coniferous tree is less stressed if it is shaded from summer ’s hottest afternoon sun . A container also offer you the option of go it into a shadier location for the summertime calendar month . In cool and coastal parts of NorCal , a full - Lord’s Day location is all right .

For more on grow coniferous tree in containers , go here .

— Fionuala Campion is the proprietor and manager of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma in Petaluma , California .

exposure : Fionuala Campion

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