Cherry Laurel in pots?

ccluedo

Looking for some instant evergreen screening, approx 10 metres to cover.  Planting isn't an option tho so wondering if Cherry Laurel Hedging plants would be ok to permanently keep in a large pot (50cm). The plants would be bought at around 4-5ft high and wouldn't be allowed to get any higher than 6-7ft.  Does anyone know if they would survive in pots? 
Thanks

Davesnave

Cherry laurel survive almost anywhere; it's more about whether you would survive the regular amount of watering and with putting them back upright when they fall over in high winds!

ccluedo

Davesnave said:

Cherry laurel survive almost anywhere; it's more about whether you would survive the regular amount of watering and with putting them back upright when they fall over in high winds!

Thanks Dave, I'm thinking of putting them on a pallet and screwing the tub onto the pallet. This will give a little more height and allow for better drainage I hope as off the ground. Hopefully wont blow over either if well potted

twopenny

And the watering?

You need to get the water to the roots of those very big pots as well as the top at least daily.

The width of bushes that size will also keep the soil dry in winter so you may find it a year long job. Perhaps think of a way to do this automatically.

You know how much rain we had this winter - found my pots were bone dry even when there was a bit of soil exposed.

ccluedo

Tnx twopenny, yes indeed, something automated will need to be sourced and set up.  I haven't established if a 50cm pot is required - I just went with the biggest plastic one I could source at reasonable cost v wooden troughs.  It's possible it doesn't actually need to be so large.....

twopenny

A bit bigger than the rootball each year is the idea.

Weight plastic ones down or sink them half way in the soil. Otherwise in winter the soil dries out in windy weather and over they go. Something chunky and heavy in the bottom maybe.

Or you could drill a couple of holes to each side of the centre and run a couple of sturdy canes through the foliage so they are hidden, they come through the holes and into soil underneath.

Wooden troughs and pots look lovely but I've seen plants burst them as roots grow. Not a pretty site and an expensive one.

[Deleted User]

You haven't said how deep those 50cm pots are - 50cm at the rim can be either a straight side or a slanted one meaning less root room at the base.

Don't forget to leave at least 8cm distance between the top of the soil and the top edge of the pot.
Balancing the size of the tree with the size of the pot looks better, i'd be inclined to search for a larger pot for this project because tie-ing/securing the pot to the ground is going to lose the aesthetic of this project, in my opinion.

I recently saw some plastic pots, in a front garden locally, that must have been 90cm across and same depth and thought how they were the largest plastic i'd ever seen !
They would be perfect in this instance !!!

ccluedo

Tnx Catsacor. I haven't yet bought the planters so not sure on circumference further down. My plan initially was to fill with croc etc to the first line before adding the plant...so  would be much less than 50cm for sure.
Probably academic now as you made very valid points.  A nursery I have been in contact with regarding purchase has written back to say the 50cm/40ltr pot is too small.  Would probably do initially for a 120-150cm plant but that they would need moved to larger within next couple of seasons.

Google isn't throwing up any options that I can see.....not to mention they would have to be cost effective as I need to cover 20metres initially, and more later!   Don't suppose you fancy a socially distanced knock on the door of the ones u seen?    (probably pushing my luck there I know)
 EDIT: Found some 80/90ltr ones on fleabay ....four times the price sadly and lord knows how much compost etc to fill even using croc in the base
Back to the drawing board I think!

goldfinches

Are you any good with pallets? You could try something like this and make it a size to suit you 
https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Make-a-Better-Strawberry-Pallet-Planter/

ccluedo

Thanks GF, some nice planters on that site but alas beyond me in skill set, tools and time

Snowdrops_Bluebells

Hi, 
These are the type of pots that Nurseries grow their trees in https://www.scotplantsdirect.co.uk/growing-needs/containers-baskets/large-plant-pots/heavy-duty-plant-pot-70-litre.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2-zZop-Q7wIVFWHmCh0VLwxREAQYAyABEgI8fPD_BwE

Not the prettiest thing but practical! You could probably cut some willow/bamboo/etc screening that is bound with wire around the pot and secure with wire/zip tie...

If you can secure pots to something (or if the site isn’t exposed) then put Perlite in the bottom.