Growing my own bareroot trees

[Gary Prentice]

The proper airpots have 'egg box' profiled sides, the roots being guided to the exterior where the hole at the extremity air prunes them.

[spandit]

I had wondered about using pond baskets but might invest in some air pots. Don't they need more frequent watering, though as surely the water drains out of all those holes?

[7610]

I use air pots. I use loads of them. You need to dunk to water. Watering from the top doesn't work. I buy them from one particular seller. His are as good as the originals at a fraction of the price. I grow big trees in them. There is total science behind them. I wouldn't use anything else.

[sandspider]

Chap I read of grows walnut trees in an old water cistern type thing. When he wants to transplant them, he blocks the drain holes and floods the whole thing. Softens the soil and the long taproots lift out easily...

[7610]

Airpots unwrap from the tree, soil and roots. They can be reused time and time again.

[gooseflight]

Air pots are great but I would echo comments on watering. You have to keep your eye on them. They dry quickly -- big soil/air interface -- and are difficult to re-wet without submersion because the pots leak like a sieve.

[Goaty]

I have been involved with airpots for years but didn't think this thread was for trees of the larger size.

Yes they work with the root Air prune idea. They are not water efficient unless you recapture and reuse water, easy to irrigate with nozzles and an irrigation system. The discs used in the bottom tend to sag and crack rendering them useless for reuse. We've started using them sat on concrete without the discs. Probably could do the same on plastic membrane but defeats the object of air pruning and roots going through the membrane in to the ground.

Upto 10 litre size in my experience I'd use pond baskets.

[spandit]

I use air pots. I use loads of them. You need to dunk to water. Watering from the top doesn't work. I buy them from one particular seller. His are as good as the originals at a fraction of the price. I grow big trees in them. There is total science behind them. I wouldn't use anything else.

 

Which seller do you use? I've only seen the originals and the postage is crippling

[Paul in the woods]

Possibly a bit small if you intend to grow your trees on for more than a year but I'm trying jumbo roottrainers this year for trees and hedging. They have a 1 litre capacity and I've used the smaller ones for growing veg on with good results. Jumbo Rootrainer Set - Tildenet Ltd - Tildenet

[7610]

I have a 10 trees at least 12 ft in airpots at moment. They are irigated. I have eucalptus even bigger. If you are serious about growing potted specimen trees they are the way forward. I grow in airpots specimen trees until they are big enough to withstand deer etc. Pictures to follow. Also my favourite seller.