Can I grow a tree in a pot?

[Ladybird69]

im Disabled so I’m just having my garden simplified for me, mainly stone and slabs so that I can get around with my walker. I’m not having borders as such but I do want to have some big plants/trees, I particularly love Robinia Frisia and a magnolia. If I had big enough pots would they be happy in them? Tia

https://horticulture.co.uk/magnolia/containers/

I can’t find info on Robinia Frisia though.

This is my two'pennarth, I'm not an expert. I think your tree would be fairly happy but it may need extra feeding and watering to ensure that it doesn't suffer - as soon as it's in put in a pot it's in an unnatural place so may need some extra pampering.

I would think it’s possible but they would need watering and feeding and eventually the soil they were in would need at least partially replacing. I would consider leaving a couple of planting spaces in your paving and put the trees directly into the soil rather like a tree is planted in the pavement. I think the trees would be happier and it would be less work for you.

We have palms and a Christmas tree in a pot. I buy a specialist feed for the palms the Xmas tree gets doses well. They're watered whenever the hanging baskets are.

Have you thought of creating big box planters with no bottom so the roots can find the ground eventually?

Look at the root system. Willows have roots that spread out so would not be suitable for a pot.

Olive trees do well in pots.

Another idea if you like the look of a tree in a pot but easier to care for is to plant it in a bottomless pot. Bunny Guiness explains this on her YouTube channel. You take a large pot and cut off the bottom. Place the pot directly into soil and the plants roots will grow down into the soil below to reach the moisture they need.
Before you make your decision do look at the price of large pots - you will be paying £100s for something large enough for a tree.

I've had a magnolia in a pot for 10 years. Repotted it twice as it's grown. Google magnolia in pot for potting instructions

I have two olive trees in half barrels, and have recently planted a flamingo willow in another.
Best to research well, and especially aim at dwarf versions of your favourite varieties.

A small variety of magnolia will probably be fine. I also have a few acers in large pots and they seem pretty happy. You do need to repot them every few years but I tend to remove the top few inches of soil and top up with fresh compost annually. They require a bit more attention with watering/feeding but it definitely can be done.

Yes and I've grown a Robinia in one. I have been looking for another but they are hard to find as apparently lots of young specimens caught the frost last winter. I've also grown a plum tree in a pot.

I've got an oak tree in a pot. A friend gave me a tiny seedling about ten years ago. I thought it would die, but it survived and is about ten feet tall now. I've moved it on into bigger pots, and it's currently in a huge plastic pot I got from Lidl, which wasn't expensive. I'll keep it a bit longer, and eventually give it to a friend who has some woodland. It's planted in John Innés no.3, and I give it fertiliser every spring.

Google Bunny Guinness Bottomless Pots to see how she does this :)

When the builders put down the slabs they should be able to build you some bottomless pots. Ask them for an estimate.

Hi thanks for all your replies and ideas. I’m going to try them in the pots. The pots are roughly the size of a half barrel so with extra watering and feeding and some fresh compost regularly I hope that they will be happy. @ArcticBells I hope I’ll be able to find one, I had one in my last garden and it was so pretty.

I've got a fig, several acers, a bay, a photinia, a silver birch (big pot), katsura acer, magnolia stellata, a quince, 2 dward apples.

I've got Robinias and Olives in pots. They've done fine and are green all year.

No advice on the magnolia but could be worth a try. I have hibiscus( I know not a tree but very beautiful flowers ) in pots and they've been fine.

Buddleia self seed in my pots and grow like crazy and attract butterflies.

Good luck with your garden

@BarrelOfOtters i would never have thought of a silver birch. They have a very special meaning to me so I’ll definitely give it a try. My last garden was huge and I planted a variegated maple slightly in front of and to the side of another maple with purple leaves (ideacopied from an arboretum and they looked stunning) sadly they would be much too big for my small garden now. I’ve found a Robinia on the RHS site are they good to buy from?