Add dirt or mulch to these pots?

Joined
Nov 5, 2021
Messages
28
Reaction score
8
Location
Minnesota
Country
United States
Hi - i started with 8 inch white pines 2 1/2 years ago in these 3# pots. They have grown well and now 3' tall. The dirt has settled quick a bit, now down about 4" inside the pots. I'd like to keep them in the pots 1 more year. Should i top them off with dirt or mulch before winter? thank you
IMG_4395.jpg
 

Oliver Buckle

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2021
Messages
4,511
Reaction score
3,001
Country
United Kingdom
I would have a go at sliding them out and putting something under them, they look big enough to have a fair old root system to hold it together if you are careful. Break a bit of earth off the top where there are not too many roots and mix it into the top of what you have added, break up the bottom a little so the roots can escape the pot shape, slide it back in, then put some on top and go round tamping it into the edge with something thin so there is no gap.
I could be completely wrong mind, I shall be interested in what other people say.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2024
Messages
38
Reaction score
26
Location
New Forest
Country
United Kingdom
The soil structure in those pots has broken down (hence the level sinking). This will reduce the ”air” in the soil (roots need to breath too). Also the ability to hold moisture and the nutrients in the soil I imagine the roots are quite pot bound
I suggest repotting into something abit bigger using a nice loam based compost
 

Anniekay

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2024
Messages
620
Reaction score
348
Location
Quitman, Ga.
Country
United States
I'd also get it into a bigger pot and add compost in the bottom, top and down around the sides, then mulch the top with a couple inches of mulch.

Since you live in Minnesota I wouldn't leave it where too much cold could get to the roots. I'd either burry the plant, pot and all into the ground and heavily mulch it, or put it in a greenhouse that's insulated for winter.
 

cpp gardener

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2019
Messages
2,150
Reaction score
946
Location
Riverside/Pomona CA
Hardiness Zone
9
Country
United States
Before you plant them in the ground, unwind the roots and cut any curled ones off. If you don’t, they will continue circling and girdle the stem. They should have been moved up or planted a year ago.
 

nao57

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2024
Messages
67
Reaction score
17
Location
Utah
Country
United States
First off, I would NOT break up the soil around the roots. Plants don't actually like that, its a good way to put them into shock and hurt them. Even though they may be root bound whenever you disturb the roots of a plant you can harm them. So I wouldn't do anything with that. Just leave the roots alone.

You could transplant them to a bigger pot. That would be a good idea.

Now someone did have a pretty good point that the nutrients around the soil may be somewhat depleted and also in the pot in general. And that's true. But when you water the plant, its dissolving nutrients you put into the top and moving that down over the roots anyway. So just watering everyday OVER mulch and fertilizer put into the top will naturally move the nutrients down and into the plant.

Another thing to think about, next year when it gets hot, its much more stressful for the plants in a pot than in normal ground. I've tested this many times and grow a lot of food every year. You can lose plants to heat in pots. And even when you don't lose them you end up having to water more times per day to keep them relieved from heat stress. Both temperatures high and low can hit plants harder when they are in pots compared to in the ground.

You can put compost over the top just filling it into the top of the pot (and let watering take care of trickling it down).

Feel free to reply if you need follow up.
 

Oliver Buckle

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2021
Messages
4,511
Reaction score
3,001
Country
United Kingdom
First off, I would NOT break up the soil around the roots. Plants don't actually like that, its a good way to put them into shock and hurt them. Even though they may be root bound whenever you disturb the roots of a plant you can harm them. So I wouldn't do anything with that. Just leave the roots alone.
I have dug up more than one plant that was failing to discover that a root bound pot has been planted by simply making a hole and putting it in. The plant has been unable to make the transition from one sort of soil to the other and is still root bound in the shape of the original pot. By knocking a bit of soil off the top of the plant, where there are not so many roots, mixing it in to the soil, and then gently loosening the roots a little before returning it to the hole it is enabled to jump that transition and thrive. I usually give it a half twist in each direction as well when it is in the hole. I certainly would not break up all the soil around the roots so it becomes effectively bare rooted, but the soil in a pot and the soil in the ground are rarely the same, a little help making the transition from one to the other seems to be no bad thing.
 

cpp gardener

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2019
Messages
2,150
Reaction score
946
Location
Riverside/Pomona CA
Hardiness Zone
9
Country
United States
Cut the circling roots. They won’t straighten out and can girdle the stem to death. Check out the garden professors.com and read.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Staff online

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
28,602
Messages
272,496
Members
15,332
Latest member
rtrowbri303

Latest Threads

Top