Potted October Glory Maple Trees

Requirements

• Given October Glory's growth rate and eventual height, use a sturdy, heavy pot when opting to put one in a container. Plastic pots may not hold up in windy conditions, but clay containers can keep a top-heavy tree from toppling over. The maple trees need a nutrient-rich potting medium such as a soil-based compost with pumice or perlite to increase air circulation among the roots. Soil from your garden is not suitable.

Care

• October Glory trees grow well in full or partial sun. If you must, you can also put them in partial shade. Though many trees suffer in wet conditions because of the chance of root rot, this species prefers wet places. The soil in a container dries out faster than the ground because it's surrounded by air on all sides. Water the October Glory every day to keep the soil damp to the touch.

Protection

• You may be thinking that you can plant this tree in a container and leave it out year-round. It's true that trees stay outside and cope with winters, but that's not a good practice when the maple tree is in a pot. The roots freeze much faster in this planting method than in the ground. Protect the roots in the winter by moving the pot to a protected area such as a garage or basement. Another option is to wrap the container with an insulating material.

Transplanting

• October Maple trees form large surface roots. As it gets taller, the roots expand. Soon, it will be too large for the container it's planted in. At this point, you need to move the tree to a larger container or put it in the ground. If you really want to keep it in its current pot, trim back the roots by one-third. Root pruning stunts the tree's growth but the tree can remain healthy at the smaller size.