Swedish Aspen

Dear Stan

I'm interested in digging some 3 to 5 foot swedish aspen suckers from near a mother tree and growing them in containers for a year or two, then offering them for sale. What is (a) good (b) better (c) best for a soil mix in the containers? Also, what would be the best fertilizer to apply during the growing season?

Thanking you in advance.

Bob Matthews

Hi Bob - Sure, have ready your pots, ones that are longer than wider. Also have ready the soil mix. A good blend can be of regular garden soil with a third of natural humus raked up from the same area as your whips are from. As you dig the suckers, you will find most of the roots will be lateral, and but a few developing a tap root. Because these whips are from the same root from the mother tree, you will be able to lift clumps of twos and threes. You might try the digging before the soil mix and pots are at hand. When potting leave at least two to three inches of open pot from the soil level so leaf mulch can be added to help the potted material over-winter. Store on leaves as well. Mulch between the pots as you put them into place. Water them well and no fertilizer is necessary until new growth shows in the spring. A 10-52-17 is the best and easy to find.

Good luck.

Let me know how it goes.