How to Grow Evergreens in Pots

Select a large pot or planting container for your evergreen tree or shrub; containers that are 18 to 24 inches tall and wide are ideal. Choose a polyethylene, concrete or wooden pot or planter that won't expand and break in freezing winter temperatures. Make sure that the pot or container that you select has at least four, quarter-inch drainage holes.

Place 2 inches of coarse gravel or pottery shards in the bottom of the pot to promote healthy drainage. Fill the pot with a mixture of four parts potting soil, three parts peat moss, two parts leaf mold and two parts perlite. Plant your evergreen at the same depth it grew in its nursery container.

Position the potted evergreen in a site with partial sun exposure; it should receive at least four hours of direct sunlight per day and bright, indirect light the rest of the day. Consult the specific care information for your species of evergreen to ensure that you're meeting its sunlight requirements.

Water the potted evergreen thoroughly every 10 to 14 days to keep the potting soil blend evenly moistened. Irrigate the evergreen until you see water streaming from the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.

Fertilize your potted evergreen monthly with a half-strength solution of a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer or a specially formulated evergreen fertilizer. Mix and apply the fertilizer according to package directions to avoid overfertilization.