Not much experience with Japanese maples or potted trees in our cold climate as the roots would freeze out, even in the shed. I do know Jim is right - trees have large root systems, to confine them you need to prune both root ball and branches to control growth.

I have 1/3 acres of mostly perennial gardens and a small bit of lawn, as well as many seasonal pots - I call it my park.

No gardener, but I do hire a nephew or my young neighbors seasonally for the heavy hauling and spreading of mulch, putting in landscape timbers, etc. We do have trimmers do our trees every couple years - I won't let hubby and the chainsaw climb anymore. My daughters and son-in-law do any heavy digging when trees/shrubs need to come in or out, and help put the cover the pond in fall & get it ready in spring - my hands won't deal with moving all the rocks I arrange around it, wrestle the sculptural fountain, etc. My husband handles the lawn, low tree trimming and keeps the underground sprinkler system going. And of course, I have my seasonal diggers helping thin the plants.

Mostly I just plod along 2-3 hours each day from April through October -keeps me fit and out of trouble. It was actually only a few years ago that I actually gardened a day every week for another woman in addition to handling all of my own work - how things change!

I'm trying to get everything in shape in the next month, before i have thumb surgery, so I can just sit on the patio and enjoy while I spend 2-3 months regaining use.
Sue