I'm by Stony Brook (SUNY) and have had 2 dwarf alberta spruce trees on my
patio - potted in maybe 5 - 10 gallon plastic planters for a couple of
years and they overwinter just fine. The planters measure about 12H"X18W"
(probably less). The trees are now about 3' tall. They started out as
little1 gallon plants that I rescued. I keep telling myself I'm going to
plant them but I have run out of garden place and they look so nice on the
patio. I did however buy them at a time that I might have transplanted them
to bigger pots then what they came in before over wintering but given that
I'm really hard on plants -. It takes me awhile after I do my impulse
buying before I can tend to them it is possible that I didn't.... This long
drawn out response is just to say that I know they can overwinter fine in
planters but that I can't say what size the planter should be for safety
sake.

"HA HA Budys Here" wrote in message
...
Hello, I'm In zone 5 I think - Long Island NY. I just picked up 2 live 5'
tall
dwarf Alberta Spruce shrubs on closeout. (Already decorated for Christmas,
lights, bows, etc.) They're in only 5 gallon pots, which I think for the
height, 5' and the width at the base (30") is a little small. I'll have
these
on my 2nd floor deck until the 1st week of Jan, then intend to heel them
in at
the first possible opportunity.

I was wondering I'f I'm better off buying a couple of large tubs and some
soil,
and just set them in those NOW, and leave them till spring. The tubs would
be
punctured for drainage and hold at least 4 40 lb. bags of soil each. My
fear is
the pots they were sold in just aren't large enough to hold and provide
adequate moisture, even with diligent watering.

TIA