The container Forum would be a good place to start.

Here is a link that might be useful: good information

If you want healthy trees to plant after your move in two years, it's best if you abort this idea. 2 years is a long time for a tree in a container. You will have to water them daily, deal with their roots... they could become potbound. You may have to repot them and if you do, they may grow slowly for a while while they establish again. They may grow slowly or not at all if the potting soil in the container is lacking nutrients and not fertilized. All in all, it's a pain in the butt considering you really aren't going to save much money by growing these trees in advance of your move. Not to mention, when you move, you will have to schlep these trees along.

To answer your question about whether mulch is enough, it probably is for mere survival but need to know what type of soil is in there.

The Container Gardening forum will help with correct potting soil mixes. For any long term container growing (longer than a single season), a very barky, durable soil is recommended -- look for recipes called "gritty mix".

FWIW, many, many gardeners choose to grow various plants in containers for a wide variety of reasons, not to mention scores of commercial growers, so what you are contemplating is certainly very possible and may even be practical for your situation...especially if you already have the trees.

Depending on the size of the pots, root pruning may not be necessary before transplanting into the ground at your new home - this is typically not an annual task for long term container growth unless the container is too small. Be generous in your container size. Again, I'd not worry too much about containers in the sun - if that were such a significant problem, wholesale growers would up a creek with regards to the 1000's of container plants they grow outdoors in full sun year round. But as Ken states, both of these will not mind being in a part shade location. You will want to pay attention to watering. Because of their relatively small volume and the need for fast drainage, container plants wick water rapidly and can dry out. And the need for frequent watering rapidly leaches out nutrients so you will need to supplement. Many growers use a CRF like Osmocote once or twice a season.

As usual gardengal has to dispute everything I say.
I will point out that for commercial growers and nurseries, keeping trees alive and happy in a container is a snap. They have employees watering them several times a day, pruning their roots when necessary, graduating them to larger pots.

If you want a container garden, that's fine, you'll have a project on your hands. But if you're just looking to get a head start on a future landscape job for a home you will move to, then this is really a waste of time and money. If you start out with the same size trees when you get to the new home they will likely outpace a larger tree that's been in a container for 2 years.

If it was some super rare or valuable tree it'd be another matter. Redbuds and dogwoods are a dime a dozen.

Maybe because virtually everything you post has a negative spin on it.......if we all listened to you, no one would plant anything -- it's too invasive, a "bad" tree, can't grow in shade/full sun, won't work, etc. The OP already has the trees, appears to understand container growing and wants them to be be less than permanent at their prsent residence so why not provide any information that may be helpful rather than simply discouraging?

I'm not sure everyone would make the assessment that this is a waste of time and money........a great many hobby gardeners grow trees in containers for various reasons and for extended periods of time and without problems. There is no reason a home gardener cannot provide the same type of care containerized trees would find at a grower - it is not at all that time consuming and for a tree or two, pretty darn easy to deal with.

I'm not trying to disagree with anyone, but, IMO, Iforgotitsonevermind does make some pretty valid points. The maintenance to keep a tree alive in a pot is significant compared to keeping the same tree alive, if planted out. As mentioned, nurseries water their trees daily, repot on a regular basis, and usually try not to hold plants for extended periods of time. Sun exposure to the sides of containerized plants is a serious issue that nurseries have to address to eliminate excessive loss. Temperatures can soar to unacceptable highs and quickly cook the root system if proper shielding/protection/shade isn't provided. All of us have had to deal with potbound nursery stock when plants were kept for too long in a pot. The performance of such plants is frequently compromised, especially with woody plants.

I personally have a number of trees in pots right now, but I have reasons (procrastination, lack of planning, etc) for it. If I was considering growing trees for planting at a future homesite, I'd ask myself if it was really worth the trouble. Two years isn't all that long to keep a tree in a pot (providing proper maintenance, water, and a large enough pot are provided), but for a small dogwood and a redbud, why?

All they were asking for was what soil to use!lol!

Making any other assumptions is pure speculation...black pot, exposure, water frequency, etc.

I'm in the same boat for my tree form hydrangea (best soil mix)...looks like the very first post to this thread had some good info.

Whaas, are you saying it's wrong to give comments about posts if the comments aren't strictly limited to the specific original question?

And what's speculative about the need for frequent water? I didn't see anything about cacti or xeriscape plantings.

Is it really speculative to discuss possibilities? Ken just commented, "Make sure black pots are NEVER in the sun." He never said he believed the OP was planning to use such pots. It never hurts to think of possibilities!

Hoo boy. Spring has sprung alrighty.

As a function of what I do, I have lots of 20- and 25-gal nursery pots at my disposal, some of them I have kept to plant veggies in. I never expose them directly to the sun, I double them to lessen the temperature of the pot containing the roots.

It sounds to me like ken has done this very thing in the OP several times at least - as a homeowner. I have as well, also as a landscaper. What ken said.

My pots don't sit in the sun, and they get repotted with added coarse material if they are going to be held over. But not in the ground, as the roots go thru the holes into native and I tear a lot of roots when removing.

Look at city yards and their trees in pots (or even B&B). Pots never exposed to the sun. Always buried in wood chips or leaves or burlap or something. Why? They don't have staff to water every day.

Dan

anyway .....

they are trees....

they need water.. but they do NOT need a lot of water standing around their roots ... and that is why we manipulate the media for its water draining capacity

i THINK ... everyone agreed that you NEED TO CHECK moisture..

but do NOT confuse that.. with watering it every time you check ... THAT MIGHT harm a tree ...

water it.. when the pot lightens significantly [if you can lift a smaller pot] ... or is drying a few inches down into the pot [on a large pot] ... insert finger to check ...

just splashing some water on it.. every time the surface seems dry .. MIGHT kill the roots down in the bottom of the pot.. where a tree will put them ... if drainage is not fast enough.. or you are hose happy with the water ...

thx dan

ken

No worries, its great to elaborate further beyond on the question. I just thought the conversation and an interesting diversion based on the basic question...good thing.