Q: I’m considering growing some evergreen trees and shrubs in containers for winter interest, but I’m worried that they’ll get too large. Any advice? Mary K, Dublin

A: Many of the loveliest evergreens are woody species that, when given space and time, will eventually grow into substantial trees and shrubs. Examples include fatsia, skimmia, yew, pittosporum, sarcococca, camellia, viburnum, nandina, mahonia, bay and eucalyptus.

If planted as young specimens they are still eminently suitable for containers, so long as you give them a really good-quality growing medium and keep them well-fed and watered. A soil-based John Innes compost is best for retaining water and nutrients, as well as offering useful ballast in strong winds. Top-dressing in spring with a shallow layer of fresh compost and a handful or two of organic, slow-release fertiliser is also important for sustaining plant health.

Not unlike the approach with bonsai trees, occasional careful pruning of both their branches and their root balls will help to keep any overly vigorous growth in check. Naturally compact varieties specifically bred for use in containers and small gardens are also increasingly available. In this way you should be able to keep these long-lived plants in containers for several years, offering a much lengthier display and better value than short-lived summer-flowering annuals or winter bedding plants.

[ How to plant a tree: a guide for bare-root seasonOpens in new window ]

Yes, the day will eventually come when they get too big for their boots. But at that point they can be gently evicted from their pots (just make sure to choose a design where it doesn’t narrow at the top) and moved to a more permanent position in your garden or allotment. If there’s no room for that, then consider the possibility of offering them to gardening friends or your local gardening club, who will almost certainly be delighted to receive them.