Prunus royal burgundy in containers

Discussion in 'Container Gardening' started by laurence peddle, Jun 17, 2017.

  1. laurence peddle

    laurence peddle Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Messages:
    30
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +16
    Hi everyone. I've just bought four Prunus Serrulata Royal Burgundy about nine feet tall. The idea is to use them to replace the Japanese maple I have as centrepieces in four small gardens. But I can't transplant the maples until they are dormant.
    In the meantime, I need to look after the prunus.
    My question is whether I could keep them in containers, larger than the ones they arrived in, for a few months until October or November.
    Also, could I keep the prunus permanently in containers, on the patio, if I change my mind and decide to leave the acers where they are?
    The prunus is, I believe, fast growing and with a maximum height of about twenty feet.It could not grow that tall, and correspondingly wide, in a container; so what, I wonder, would happen to it in a few years' time if it was left in a container? I'd be grateful for any advice.Photo included. Cheers, Laurence
     
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2017
  2. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2012
    Messages:
    7,475
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West Cornwall
    Ratings:
    +17,486
    Hiya Laurence
    Yes to containers until the autumn....keep well watered :)
    No to permanent planting in containers....:nonofinger:
    This is a vigorous, fast growing and big tree....needs space in the open ground
    Ok, similar colour to purple jap maples but so dfferent in every other respect
     
  3. laurence peddle

    laurence peddle Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Messages:
    30
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +16

    Hi Verdun, Thanks for replying.
    I omitted to mention that the Prunus I ordered was meant to be about 6 feet tall, but for the same price they sent ones that were 9 or 10 feet tall. Apparently they'd run out of the smaller ones.
    My intention was to keep the 6 foot Prunus in pots for a few years with the option of replacing the Acers with them.The uploaded photo shows a Prunus next to an Acer centrepiece in one of the four small gardens. I really don't think, now that they are here and are so big, that I can replace a slow-growing small coral bark Acer with a fast-growing large Prunus in a small garden..
    Since there's nowhere else to put them, apart from in containers, I have a problem.
    So, I'd be grateful if you could elaborate on why they can't be kept permanently in containers, given that garden centres sell very large ones.
    Note, too, that the photo shows the Prunus in a relatively very small pot, or so it seems to me, in fact quite surprisingly small.
    Is it that the Prunus has a spreading rather than deepening root system, so can't be kept in pots? What, though, if I tried root pruning? What would happen, come to think of it, if I cut a few feet off the top of the Prunus? Answering my own question, I suppose I'd lose next year's flower display and spoil the shape of the tree.
    I may have to give them away, in which case I'll ask on this forum if anybody wants them. But I'll wait until I hear about why exactly they are unsuited to container growing. Perhaps I could keep them in containers at least until next Spring, so that we'd see the flowers. Thanks again, Laurence
     

    Attached Files:

  4. laurence peddle

    laurence peddle Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Messages:
    30
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +16
    Here's an update. I've just found out that Silk Tree Nurseries, UK, graft Prunus Royal Burgundy onto a dwarf rootstock, the resulting cherry tree growing, or so they claim, to between six and seven feet. If only I'd known that a few weeks ago. Such is gardening. Cheers, Laurence
     
  5. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2012
    Messages:
    7,475
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West Cornwall
    Ratings:
    +17,486
    Ah! That will make a difference laurence :)
     
  6. laurence peddle

    laurence peddle Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Messages:
    30
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +16
    Thanks Verdun. They are out of stock at the moment, but hopefully not for long. Thanks again. Cheers, Laurence
     
Loading...

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice