"Sue" wrote in message
...

Hello

We have recently been given a silver birch tree (betula
pendula)...container
grown,about 4ft 6 ins tall.

Our garden has barely enough space for such a tree if we allowed it to
reach
its full size so we are considering restricting its growth by growing it
in
a slightly bigger pot than the one it came in, to restrict its roots.

Any comments please. Would this work? How do we stop the roots growing
into
the soil via the drainage holes, how often should it be fed and can it be
pruned without spoiling its shape? Basically I suppose we are talking big
bonsai!

If you raise the pot on some of those little terracotta feet, it will let
the drainage holes work, and roots will be reluctant to grow through the air
down to the soil. Any that do can be easily cut off.

--
Martin & Anna Sykes
( Remove x's when replying )
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sykesm