goldfinch wrote:
A Magnolia seiboldii plant has arrived from a mail order company,
with its' roots encased in what appears to be a net bag. I have
never come across this before and was wondering if anyone else has,
and if so, do I plant it as it is, or remove the bag first.

I know that magnolias are particularly sensative to root
disturbance,
so is this a new way round the problem.

Perhaps it depends what the net is made of: natural fibres will rot
away, of course, while synthetic ones won't. On the whole I'd say
unpick the thing gently (and I'd do it in the planting hole in case
the soil in the root ball tries to fall out), unless somebody here
recognizes the situation and says to leave it on. The firm should
really have enclosed instructions: naughty.

Mike.