2 questions re big shrubs & trees in containers
 

Q1.....When large trees and shrubs are sold in containers are they
containerised when small and potted on or are they field grown and
containerised.

Q2.....I have a problem with shrubs and trees (esp) that are grown in
containers.. Surely the root systems are inferior to field grown
specimens. I have had several such plants that have failed after
apparently growing ok, on removing them the roots have been found to be
self strangulated.

May I have the groups thoughts on these questions please.

Bell

2 questions re big shrubs & trees in containers
 

"Annabel" wrote in news:b6jl4c$2o9$1
@news6.svr.pol.co.uk:

Q1.....When large trees and shrubs are sold in containers are they
containerised when small and potted on or are they field grown and
containerised.

Q2.....I have a problem with shrubs and trees (esp) that are grown in
containers.. Surely the root systems are inferior to field grown
specimens. I have had several such plants that have failed after
apparently growing ok, on removing them the roots have been found to be
self strangulated.

Dunno about Q1

I am with you on Q2, particularly with larger specimens.

Small containerised trees seem to be OK, but you regularly see trees where
the height doesn't seem to relate to the size of the rootball at all, and I
have had bad experiences with those (though not actual failures - were
yours delicate or exotic varieties?)

My parents planted some containerised apple trees when we moved house in
1982: those trees took years to get going, and are still not as good as
ones planted more recently as young saplings.

I don't think it's just down to the containers, either - it's down to
packing them in too tight, or whatever it is they do to create that
elongated effect.

Trees I've grown from seed in containers myself are tough as boots, and
properly tree-shaped - IE, branches all over, a bush that slowly gets
taller - not a 'stretched lollipop' effect.

Victoria

2 questions re big shrubs & trees in containers
 

in article , Annabel at
wrote on 4/4/03 10:57 am:

Q1.....When large trees and shrubs are sold in containers are they
containerised when small and potted on or are they field grown and
containerised.

Q2.....I have a problem with shrubs and trees (esp) that are grown in
containers.. Surely the root systems are inferior to field grown
specimens. I have had several such plants that have failed after
apparently growing ok, on removing them the roots have been found to be
self strangulated.

May I have the groups thoughts on these questions please.

Bell

Much depends on the nursery you're dealing with and if you want to get in
touch with a good tree specialist try Thornhayes in Devon. I don't have
their website address in front of me at the moment but they're excellent.
They have a wonderful collection of apple trees, for example, some of them
ancient varieties introduced by the Romans.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk

2 questions re big shrubs & trees in containers
 

"Annabel" wrote in message
...
Q1.....When large trees and shrubs are sold in containers are they
containerised when small and potted on or are they field grown and
containerised.

container grown = what is say on the tin

Containerised = field grown, lifted and potted

Often but not always you can tell the difference as Container grown are self
supporting with maybe a stake. Containerised large specimens often have
timber
support struts across the top of the container to stabilise the rootball.

Some things eg holly will normally be container grown as they resent
lifting.


Q2.....I have a problem with shrubs and trees (esp) that are grown in
containers.. Surely the root systems are inferior to field grown
specimens. I have had several such plants that have failed after
apparently growing ok, on removing them the roots have been found to be
self strangulated.

Horses for courses see comment re holly.

pk

2 questions re big shrubs & trees in containers
 

On Fri, 4 Apr 2003 10:57:55 +0100, Annabel wrote:

Q1.....When large trees and shrubs are sold in containers are they
containerised when small and potted on or are they field grown and
containerised.

Q2.....I have a problem with shrubs and trees (esp) that are grown in
containers.. Surely the root systems are inferior to field grown
specimens. I have had several such plants that have failed after
apparently growing ok, on removing them the roots have been found to be
self strangulated.

You might want to treat your container trees and shrubs rather
like large bonsai. One of the key elements to successful bonsai
culture is periodic root pruning, which involves taking off about
1/4 of the roots annually. I've seen this explained as forcing
the plant to constantly renew its roots, keeping them young and
vigorous, with corresponding benefits to the above-ground growth.

Of course there's a flip side to this: species which do not
tolerate root disturbance won't do well under this kind of
regimen.


--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada