How To Plant A Vitex Chaste Tree In The Ground Or In A Pot

Chaste Trees will grow in most any average soil, including clay soils. They prefer a well-drained soil however will tolerate temporary wet conditions. Avoid planting in soil that stay constantly soggy or wet.

How To Test Soil Drainage 

If you are uncertain about soil drainage in the area you intend to plant your chaste tree, it's well worth taking the time to test the drainage. To test soil drainage, dig a hole 12" wide by 12" deep in the planting area. Fill the hole with water and let it drain. Then, after it drains, fill it with water again, but this time clock how long it takes to drain. In well-drained soil the water level will go down at a rate of about 1 inch an hour. A faster rate, such as in loose, sandy soil, may signal potentially dry site conditions. A slower rate indicates poor draining soil and is a caution you might need to improve drainage, plant in a raised mound or bed, or look for plants that are more tolerant of wet or boggy conditions.

Learn More:  What is Soil pH and How To Adjust It?

Set your chaste tree in the planting hole so that the top edge of the root ball is at or slightly above ground level. If necessary, add some backfill soil mixture to the bottom of the hole to achieve proper planting height. 

Note:  If the soil is poorly drained (constantly soggy or wet) either improve drainage, plant the root ball in a raised mound, or select a different plant species more tolerant of wet soils. 

Next, deeply water the planting area, including the root ball, to a depth equal to the height of the root ball. For an extra boost, to stimulate early root formation and stronger root development you can also water you newly planted chase tree with a solution of Root Stimulator, which reduces transplant shock and promotes greener, more vigorous plants.

To conserve moisture and to suppress weed growth, apply a 1 to 2" layer of cured, shredded or chipped wood mulch or pine straw around the planting area. As the mulch decomposes it will add vital nutrients to the soil that your tree will appreciate. Avoid the use of freshly chipped or shredded wood for mulch until it has cured in a pile for at least 6 months, a year is better. Avoid placing or piling mulch directly against the base of your tree as doing so could cause the bark to rot.

A chaste tree growing in a pot will appreciate a moist but well-drained soil. Constantly soggy or wet soil can and often will cause root rot or other harmful or deadly plant diseases. Therefore, I recommend using a quality potting soil or potting mix, or a 50/50 combination thereof in a container with a drainage hole(s). You can also add about 10% pumice or perlite to the soil mixture to help with drainage. 

Make sure to choose a container with drainage holes at the bottom and one that is large enough to allow for 2 to 3 years of growth before having to shift up to a larger size container. This might mean your planting pot would be 8 inches or more in width than the root ball of your chase tree. 

Note:  Keep in mind the wind. When planting taller growing trees in containers, wind is always a factor. Choose a pot with a low profile and make sure to place your container where it will not be exposed to high winds. Square pots tend to be more stable than round pots. You can also place a brick(s) or other heavy objects in the bottom of the container for stabilization.  

Container color will matter as well. Not only will you want to pick a container color that goes well with the flower and foliage color of your chaste tree, you'll also want to pick a container that matches the style of your home or other structures and other plants in the surrounding environment. 

Many nursery & garden centers offer a wide variety of containers to choose from. Before heading out to buy a container take pictures of your home and the surrounding environment. Doing so will help you to choose just the right color and style.

Before filling your container with the soil mix, I recommend lining the bottom with shade cloth or a porous landscape fabric. This will keep the drain holes from becoming stopped up with soil. If you use stones or brick in the bottom of the pot lay the fabric on top.

To remove your chaste tree from the nursery container it was growing in, firmly grasp the tree or shrub by the base of its trunk and try to gently lift and remove it from its container. If the root ball is stuck in the container either cut the container away or place the plant on it's side and tap on the side of the container to loosen the root ball. After having removed the plant from the container, use your fingers or a claw tool to loosen some feeder roots around the surface of the root ball. If root bound, you can spray the sides and bottom of the root ball with a stream of water from a garden hose. This will help to wash away some soil from the exterior of the root ball making it easier to loosen roots.

Pour a small amount of your soil mixture in the bottom of the container. Set your crape myrtle in the container and make necessary adjustments by adding or removing some soil so that the top edge of the root ball will sit 1" or so below the rim of the container.

Backfill with your potting soil around root ball, tamping as you go, until the level of potting soil is even with the top edge of root ball.

Water thoroughly until water starts to drain from the holes in the bottom of the container. Add more potting mix if settling occurs during watering.