One of the trees most often recommended for small gardens, amelanchiers are also one of the best garden trees for pots. Part of their appeal lies in their long season of interest: abundant racemes of starry white flowers in early spring are followed by bold copper coloured foliage which blazes brilliant red in autumn. In summer, the juneberries that give the tree its common name are popular with birds, making it a wildlife friendly choice too. Best trees in pots for screening Throughout history, the bay has been honoured and revered for its aromatic properties and mystical origins. In summer, your bay tree will be growing much more vigorously and pushing out lots of new growth. This means it may need a bit of light additional pruning to ensure it maintains a good shape. How to Prune a Bay Tree Few gardens have room for a full-grown oak tree, so growing one in a pot as a bonsai might be the perfect solution. They are simply magnificent trees, and there are numerous varieties to choose from. Oak is famously slow-growing, and growing a bonsai from an acorn will take up to 15 years – the alternative is to grow one from a sapling or buy a ready-made bonsai. Prune pot-grown oak trees in early spring and apply a liquid fertiliser weekly throughout the spring and summer. Tips for caring for potted trees Today the winners of the Grand Prix are awarded a wreath of bay leaves. In Italy, some college graduates wear bay leaf wreaths instead of mortarboards for graduation. Bay is used in psychic dream pillows and is also worn by healers to help purify a room.

Bays are evergreen trees and while it is normal for them to drop a couple of their leaves here and there make sure to keep an eye on it if the issue starts to get worse. Overwatering According to the proverb, ‘To be happy for a year, get married; to be happy for life, plant a garden'. A well-chosen tree makes the perfect finishing flourish, and by planting trees in a pot, it is perfectly possible for even a balcony-sized garden to enjoy its many benefits. Container-grown trees make an attractive focal point and add variety, height, colour and even fruit to the garden. For ‘Generation Rent’, a pot-grown tree has the added flexibility of being able to move with you. Best small trees for pots They will have two useful figures on their label: standard size (e.g., 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4) and head size (e.g., 35-40cm, 60-65cm). Pots made from porous materials such as terracotta and wood offer optimum growing conditions for trees and other permanent plants There are several bay tree shapes available, but the standard and pyramid shapes are the most versatile for the garden. Standard Bay Tree / Laurus Nobilis

It has romantic associations and is often given as a Wedding or Valentine’s gift. ‘To ensure love will last, the couple should break off a twig and break it in two, each keeping a half. Both the Greeks and Romans believed the bay would bring health and happiness. Bays were often planted outside a house to protect the inhabitants and leaves were carried to ward off evil spirits. As an evergreen, the bay was seen to represent eternity and immortality. Yellow leaves - older leaves will shed naturally in low numbers. Nutrient deficiency can be the problem in container-grown plants but is more commonly caused by waterlogged compost or cold weather damage. The preferred position for bay trees is in full sun, protected from winds and extreme cold snaps. They will, however, happily tolerate partial shade.

Conduct the hard pruning of your bay tree in the springtime. This is the best time to get the initial shaping in for the tree. Once the tree starts in the growing season you may need to get another lighter pruning done in the summer just to neaten up the shape.Bay trees become hungry during their growing season and may need some slow-release fertiliser. Start adding slow-release fertiliser granules throughout spring or summer or by adding a layer of organic matter (mulch) to the topsoil. This will allow for the nutrients to penetrate the soil slowly for the tree to use. Avoid using any fast, liquid fertilisers on your bay tree. Leaf spots - often caused by waterlogged roots, or wet weather conditions. Plants in containers are also very prone to this, usually indicating that the compost has become old and tired. Repot your plant in spring into fresh, well-drained compost.