Skinny Tree

This potted tree was on its side in my garage when I moved in to my house just over a year ago.

Early last summer I pulled it out of its pot, tried to shake out some of the old soil, added more to the bottom and top of the pot and put it back. I'm pretty sure its a bit straighter than it started and its definitely taller.

Is it supposed to be so spindly and skinny? Is there any way to encourage it to fill out a bit?

 

Bit difficult to tell quite what it is from the photo. Did it flower at all? Could you take a close up photo of any leaves it may have?

 

No flowers at all, no berries or buds, no pinecones or anything, just sparse stems. Heres a close up photo.

 

Its a conifer, juniper maybe, or a straggly leylandii.
Not enjoying being in a pot.

 

My choices with it are either an even bigger pot or the front garden (north west facing) straight into the ground, however Im wary of a tree there since if it got too big it would block the light into the front window.

Would a bigger pot make it bushier? Would chopping off the top encourage it to fill out or would I just hurt it?
That might be a stupid question, sorry!

 

I'd not put it in the ground if you dont want a big tree.

You could cut it back hard and repot in a bigger pot next month, then feed and water well all summer.
Not being unkind, but you could hardly make it look worse.

 

Oh I totally agree! Believe it or not, its looking a little better than it was a year ago, I was hoping it would sort itself but it clearly hasnt.

Is there anything I should do with the roots when I pot it up?

Thanks

 

Well conifers are strange, they wont shoot from brown growth, so if you cut it back too hard you will get nothing happening, so only cut back as far as its showing green.

As to the roots, just a bit of fresh compost, preferably JI no 3 mixed with some multi purpose and a sprinkling of osmacote or similar controlled release fertiliser.

 

Brilliant, thanks a lot for your help