Also be wary of the wooden planters with the plastic bottoms as the plant roots get under the wooden sides and are then between the sides and the plastic bottom - making it all but impossible (even after going round the planter with a blade to release the side roots) to pull the plants out. Luckily with the planters I had, the plastic bases were attached with screws, so could be removed and the roots sorted that way.
I've also learnt a lesson in not using bow sided ceramic pots for plants I may want to plant on. All pots should be straight sided IMO...!
Why isn't there a tool (a bit like a hacksaw blade) for releasing side roots in potted plants? I ended up using the detachable saw blade from a tree lopper as that was the only thing long and strong enough to get down the sides.
I had a weird dream last night that I was beach combing with the Queen but I told her I had to leave early as I wanted to go home and dehydrate an interesting fish I'd found. I've no idea what part of my subconcious that was created from, or what I planned to do with my dry fish.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Why isn't there a tool (a bit like a hacksaw blade) for releasing side roots in potted plants? I ended up using the detachable saw blade from a tree lopper as that was the only thing long and strong enough to get down the sides.
Try tapping the sides with a rubber mallet. Works sometimes, particularly on plastic pots and is actually better when the soil is dry. I have broke the odd pot though so it's hardly a fool proof method. Although smashing the pot is sometimes the only way.
A couple of weeks ago I sneakily chopped back a bit of the neighbour's tree and stuck a bird box up there. The tree was overhanging my garden and making my plants go a bit leggy, and it was blocking the street light and bouncing light into my bedroom window. I should have asked but I haven't seen her in weeks (and this was before the Nanny Beach garage bird box furore). Yesterday she ran out to speak to me while I was in the green house and I thought I was going to cop an earful. As it turned out she wanted to know if I knew anyone who could cut the tree back as it was blocking the streetlight and getting a bit large. I confessed I'd already started work and said I was happy to finish the job however she wanted. It took me about four or five hours in the end as I decided to tackle some other trees at the same time and turn all the prunings into a dead hedge between our gardens. I'm knackered now though. I don't think I've done that much physical work for months
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Good luck @Lizzie27. I used an old bread knife, like Obelixx to get mine out. Don't remember soaking it first though, but I do remember it was quite a job that took lots of huff and puff.
I noticed today that one of my agapanthus looks ready to bust out of its pot - lots of roots showing on the surface. That'll be a job for next weekend . Fortunately it's a regular-shaped terracotta pot so it should come out OK (says she, more in hope than expectation).
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
We did it! But it took two of us four hours of really hard work and one of the pots has a slight crack in it now. The overnight soaking didn't make the job any easier unfortunately. I'm never, ever do that job again. Had to use my mini-mattock, a pruning saw, a big saw, a bread knife and hammer and chisel in the end. Have now re- potted up some bits into big black plastic pots and put those into the terracotta ones. I've put the remaining pieces on the drive for people to take away.
NOT looking forward to doing the big Hosta!
I'm far too old to cope with that kind of hard physical work any more, I'm absolutely cream-crackered.
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I've put the remaining pieces on the drive for people to take away.
NOT looking forward to doing the big Hosta!
I'm far too old to cope with that kind of hard physical work any more, I'm absolutely cream-crackered.