Hi. A co-worker wants to plant a Quaking Aspen, but does not want all the suckers to come up. We are in zone 4b. Will it work to have it in a pot? Could he submerge the pot in order for it to over-winter?

Or, is there a way to control the runners from going all over his yard?

Thanks!

Not sure how these handle containers. Can't seem to locate any info about people growing them in this way, Everything I've found has suggested little more than that they grow quickly, can attain a height of around 40 feet and that they are hardy to zone 4.

There are a couple of different cultivars out there for this plant, perhaps one of them may be more suited for container use or perhaps just less spreading through suckers. May be worth looking into.

Perhaps your best bet may be to contact one of the many vendors out there that sell them.

http://www.bing.com/search?q=p...

No tree actually likes to be in a pot, but I don't seen any reason why it can't be done with a Quaking Aspen. Yes, you will want to bury the pot over winter. As you know, suckering is normal. But damage to roots, or abnormal changes in plant hormone levels caused by heavy branch pruning, forest fire, cutting at ground level, etc., will certainly spur root suckering.

So, by the same token, when the tree (very soon) starts to outgrow the pot, if you prune it it will then put up suckers, too. Vendors might tend to tell you it's all right so they can sell you a tree, don't forget.

Jmho, Quakies are not a good candidate for growing in a pot. I'd plant them in the ground then just cut off the suckers as they come up. If you want a solitary tree, you should buy something better suited.

We planted a row of transplants that we dug up on a relative's property in Utah. Only about half of them made it, but the rest have now made a pretty little grove. We let the suckers grow, of course because we wanted a clump of smaller trees, not just a few big ones. I would think to contain the suckers, some sort of concrete edging might do the trick. Ours did not get out of hand in the 5 years our son lived in that house.

Would you consider a Quaking Aspen Bonsai? That would work for while. All the beauty of the tree in a compact package.
Still short-lived, but worth the effort.

@greene The co-worker likes it for the sound of the leaves. Perhaps it might be nice on the patio.

Suggest that your co-worker look at Google Images for 'Quaking Aspen Bonsai' to see what others have done.

Concrete edging or some other physical barrier would need to be 2ft deep for sure. This would not be an easy project. I agree that Quaking aspen is not an very good yard tree. Besides the suckering problem, its wood is not very strong.

Hi all,

I live in Virginia Beach, zone 8a. I love quaking aspen! When I moved here I talked with our extension office and asked them about Quaking Aspen growing here. They told me that they would, so I ordered several from the National Arbor Foundation. They have been growing in my yard for over 20 years. They are great! I love them! The suckering issue doesn't bother me. I just cut them off. However, sometimes they pop up in just the perfect spot and I let them grow! I have several growing around my patio now and they provide great dappled shade for other plants.


These are pictures from 2006
The following are pictures from this year.



This last picture are the suckers that came up around my patio.
I was wondering the same thing if I could pot up a sucker and transplant it to another area of my yard.

Quaking Aspen are clonal trees - you only need to plant one to grow a forest. Have you ever heard of the Pando Tree?

PS: Did you know the reason Aspen leaves 'quake' is because they have flat petioles?

As an FYI, thread originated in 2014.

Oh, another new person going through the archives.