How to Plant Birch Trees in Containers

Growing birch trees in containers is a great way to liven up your outdoor living space and enjoy the beauty of nature--even if you live in an apartment or have a very small yard. Growing birch trees in containers is more work than growing them in the ground, so you'll need to care for your tree properly if you want it to grow well. Birch trees are well suited for growing in containers, though without regular root pruning, they will eventually outgrow their accommodations and need to be transplanted into the ground.

Clay pot

Container soil

Choose a birch tree species that is well suited to your climate. Even though you'll be growing your birch tree in a container, it will likely outgrow its pot within a few years and you will need to transplant it in the ground. You'll want to make sure that your transplanted tree will continue to thrive.

Select a high-quality clay pot that is large enough to accommodate your tree's growth. Clay pots are the ideal choice because they are heavy and won't tip over easily. This is especially important as your tree gets heavier.

Purchase a good container soil for your potted birch tree that contains a mixture of organic matter and either perlite or pumice to keep the soil aerated. Never use soil from your backyard.

Give your tree proper care so that it will grow well in its container. Container-grown birch trees need to be watered frequently so that the soil is consistently moist, but not wet. Fertilize the soil with a slow-release fertilizer to give your tree the nutrients it needs to thrive.

Protect your potted birch tree from harsh weather conditions by bringing the container into a cool greenhouse for the winter or covering the pot with a warm material so that it isn't exposed to frigid cold, ice or snow.

Prune your tree roots by one-third when your tree starts to outgrow its container. Other options include transplanting your birch tree into a larger pot or moving it into the ground.