birch tree relocation

matthewdonnellysan1au_tW31

Hello.
My partner has an idea about buying an 11 foot birch tree but will involve digging it up from loam soil near the coast of Edinburgh and putting it in a pot outside her studio in the centre of Edinburgh as it "would look lovely" I'm not sure it would survive. 
Am I wrong? 
Any advice would be appreciated. 

philippasmith2

No you aren't wrong

Birch are large trees and best in the ground.  Your partner needs to bear in mind that digging up a tree of that size and putting it in a pot isn't going to work. 

There are other options if you can give some idea of size of pot, orientation, how much time partner wants to spend ( both in financial and watering/maintenance terms ) but I'd certainly forget the Birch tree.

matthewdonnellysan1au_tW31

Thank you Philipa.
It's a yoga/ massage therapy studio on 37 Buccleuch Street, Edinburgh. (west Facing)
It doesn't get that much sun because of other buildings until 5pm (and that's the Edinburgh summer)
And a pot that could be moved inside at night. 
The birch was free, not including moving it but the owner is going to cut it down to make way for swings for the kids as its a new property and they don't have time for gardens.

matthewdonnellysan1au_tW31

sorry, the owner wanted £80 for it but was promised free hot stones massages in exchange.

jonathan.cole

I would expect a birch tree that gets no sun and is crammed into a pot small enough to move inside every night would die fairly promptly.

It's not something I've ever tried though and others might be more optimistic.

Dovefromabove

It is possible to grow a tree in a pot for several years, if you start off with a small tree and keep increasing the size of the pot to accommodate the growing roots each year. 

However a tree growing in the ground will have roots at least two thirds of the size of the top growth. If it has not been grown in a specific way in order to enable it to be dug up without damaging the roots, then digging up an 11 ft tree and fitting it into a pot will do so much damage to the roots that it will not survive. 

Also a large container of damp loam-based compost will be sooooo heavy that anyone trying to move it will run the risk of really hurting their back. 

The trees that are provided in pots to have outside street cafes etc are grown by experts in a specific way  using specialised techniques and equipment. That’s why they’re so expensive. 

If your girlfriend wants a large foliage plant in a pot outside her studio, what about bamboo? 

That’d be possible 😊 

matthewdonnellysan1au_tW31

Thank you Jonathan and Dovefromabove, I'll pass it on. 

philippasmith2

matthewdonnellysan1au_tW31 said:

Thank you Philipa.
It's a yoga/ massage therapy studio on 37 Buccleuch Street, Edinburgh. (west Facing)
It doesn't get that much sun because of other buildings until 5pm (and that's the Edinburgh summer)
And a pot that could be moved inside at night. 
The birch was free, not including moving it but the owner is going to cut it down to make way for swings for the kids as its a new property and they don't have time for gardens.

Shame about the Birch tree being cut down but you certainly wouldn't be able to grow it in the circs you describe.
If it is a Yoga/Massage parlour, I'd imagine both your partner and the clients would prefer something which moves with the breeze or has flowers/scent which would waft in to the studio ? 
The biggest limiting factor is the need to bring in at night.  Bamboo may look attractive in a pot for a while but you would need to constantly re pot and I doubt it would be happy ( never mind the increasing weight ) being indoors. All the Good Feeling is likely to be rapidly dissipated by the need to manage the pot and it's contents.
This may well be one occasion when your partner needs to have a total rethink and consider some other form of artistic sculpture