Wednesday sees the start of National Tree Week - a week so popular it now lasts for 12 days!

The idea behind it is to make each of us more aware of the trees we may take for granted, but it's also the perfect excuse to plant a tree of our own.

Trees are vital to our very existence. They give off oxygen, stabilise the soil and provide food and shelter for animals and man. And of course, they look beautiful too.

But they don't need to be the giants of the garden and they don't even need to stay in one place - if you put them on wheels.

Most trees grow well in pots and containers, and putting them on wheels means you can constantly move your tree for ever-changing scenery.

Growing a tree in a pot will restrict its size, allowing you to grow varieties that might otherwise be too ambitious for your garden.

You don't have to worry about roots running amok and affecting foundations. And, within the confines of the container, you can create the perfect soil environment for the species.

And, best of all, when you feel like a change of scenery, you simply wheel your tree to a new location. A tree on wheels can be moved into position to provide privacy, hide an ugly spot or just to change the view from your back window.

In the summer it can be rolled into the right location to provide shade over a sitting or eating area.

And in the winter, if your tree is tender, you can simply wheel it into a warmer spot.

Most trees can be grown in a pot but ideally you should plant a semi-mature tree that has been container grown. Go for a healthy-looking tree with a straight trunk and branches that don't crisscross.

Check out the root system to make sure the roots are not overcrowded and curling round the bottom of the pot.

And if you are buying a young, bare-rooted tree, make sure the roots are fat and healthy-looking.

Once you have chosen your container, fill it with John Innes No3 compost for the best results. Use a slow-release fertiliser and top it up with a liquid feed in the summer.

Once your tree is established, it will require little more than regular watering. It will probably need repotting after 3-4 years. Or you could revitalise the soil by removing the top few inches and replacing it with fresh John Innes No3.

Your choice of tree will depend on what you want it for. If it's privacy, then go for something with a compact head of dense branches.

For a year-round tree an evergreen like the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is a good choice. Alternatively a camellia has showy blooms and attractive leaves.

If it's shade you want, then you need an umbrella-shaped canopy. An ornamental crab apple or a flowering cherry are both good choices.

A Stag's horn sumach (Rhus typhina) also makes a pleasing parasol. For a weeping tree, try the Kilmarnock Willow.

Everyone loves a Laurus Nobilis by the front door. They can be damaged by frost but if your tree is on wheels you can solve that problem swifty.

Holly always looks good here too. Box can also be clipped into simple topiary shapes and moved from location to location.

And for a touch of exotica, a loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) grows well in a pot. Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki' is a willow with reddish stems and white-splashed leaves.

Some garden centres sell containers with wheels but if you have trouble finding them, they are available from mail order companies like The Traditional Garden Supply Company or Windrush Mill.

You can also buy castors to convert your own containers or trolleys to place them on. Or make your own containers using exterior grade wood and castors from a hardwear shop.

As for size, choose a container that is in proportion to the tree, not only so that it looks right but so that it is stable when the tree is mature.

As a rough guide, a container 60x90x60 (2ftx3x2ft) would be suitable for a tree of about 3.6m (12ft).

Don't forget, you can also use a tree on wheels as part of a mixed planting scheme - a Japanese maple looks lovely underplanted with small bulbs. As long as your tree and other plants have the same cultural requirements - sun or shade, acid or neutral compost etc. you can mix and match.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.