What Is a Container Grown Tree?

What Does ‘Container Grown’ Mean?

A container grown tree is exactly that, a tree that has been cultivated and grown in a pot or container, rather than in open ground, for at least one season. The tree spends some or all of its life in a container until it is sold and planted out in your beautiful garden –  either into another pot or into the ground. There are two types of ‘Container methods’

‘Containerised trees’ are bare root trees that have been put in a pot with loose compost around the roots. Their root system will not be established in the pot and these are often just little bare root maidens put in a pot for sale (for a cheap buck!).

Container grown trees have been actively grown in pots. These have either been grown in pots right from the word go or have once been a bare root tree that has been potted and then grown for a growing season so their roots are established in the pots. 

When you take the pots off the compost should not all fall off. They should show good white active root.

Our container grown trees stay at the nursery usually for 2-3 years, where they live a happy, sustainable life. The team undergo regular checks to ensure roots are healthy (white, fibrous and well distributed) and that there is strong even growth, healthy leaves and/or buds and no signs of disease, pests, or stress. 

Container grown trees differ from bare root trees, which are grown in fields and dug up while dormant, and root-balled trees, which are grown in the ground and lifted with a ball of soil wrapped around the roots. Each has their advantages and disadvantages and that all depends on the gardeners preference, time, space and budget.