I use fabric pots extensively to grow trees (I have a tree nursery, mostly hardwood nut trees, christmas trees, landscape screening conifers, and anything else I think is cool). The fact that the roots get entangled and trapped in the fabric is actually the reason why I use the pots... that is their purpose. When the roots hit the fabric, they are forced to stop growing and force the tree to form a more fibrous root system. Theses pots effectively root prune for you. You can even grow them with the bags in the ground to get the best of both worlds (in ground moisture, weather protection, and nutrients + root pruning). Yes, some trees, like I learned most recently with Eastern Redbud, grow through the pots very aggressively during the growing season if they are not suspended, but that just means I have to manually root prune a few that escape DURING THEIR DORMANT PERIOD over the winter. The remaining roots that get trapped add to the fibrous root system within the pot itself so I still have a superior root system without having to manually root prune all the time. I can see why you wouldn't want this when your trees have no dormant period or trees that already have a fibrous root system (like palms), but if you have tap-root trees that you would want to root prune (which you MUST if you want a healthy in ground tree decades from today) then these are great. If you let a root start circling the pot, then you just set an early expiration date on your tree as the roots will strangle the tree when it grows larger...and root pruning once every couple years is not enough, you have to do it often to get an adequately fibrous root system. Also, yes you have to destroy the pots to get them off once they serve their purpose of root pruning, but I suppose that doesn't bother me because their purpose was to root prune, not serve as a long term pot. The fabric generally breaks down anyway over a few years so I don't see the heartburn with having to cut them up once you are done with them.
Thanks for sharing. Always great to learn the practices of a pro. I'm curious about the "DURING THEIR DORMANT PERIOD" comment. From your experience, if done out of dormancy, would it cause just a few weeks setback or actually long-term health of a tree? Also, for evergreens, is it worth it to wait for the winter? I'm assuming that time of year is as dormant as they'll get, but I'm also guessing they're more susceptible in the cold.
@@oftenwrongphong I grow orchards of apple, pear and plum orchards, I learned that pears don't like being transplanted, no matter how careful I was to protect the rootball. That's how I learned about 'transplant shock' - the hard way. Now I only transplant and repot pears in winter, I try to do the same with my apples and plums too - just in case.
jump to @3:40 Please understand that the one and true purpose of a grow bag is to air prune the root system. If you allow a tree to be in direct contact with the soil, there is no air layer to prune away the roots. This is the case with any plant, although trees have much stronger roots than say a tomato plant. When you grow a tree in a bag, it has to be on a pallet. If the bag touches the ground, you will root bound any plant. I like to use pallets under grow bags, although the cheap metal bed frames at the thrift store work too if you sit them on top of cinder blocks. So go back to grow bags and AIR PRUNE AIR PRUNE AIR PRUNE those Roots Also if you have fertilizer salt build up, got to an all organic feeding system, if you need to refresh the soil you likely need a larger bag to accommodate the tree. In Denmark they grow full sized trees in geotextile.
I’ve used the #30 for a bunch of trees, going on 5 years. Fig, lemon, clementine, lime, peach, and I believe an apple but frost killed that. The only drawback is having to protect the roots during winter when it frosts. The roots are Mose sensitive since they are above ground. That’s why my apple tree died, other than that have had good success growing fruit in fabric pots
Crazy! I've never had that happen with my figs, olives, apples or blueberries, they all air prune just like they are supposed to. I've removed them to up pot or refresh and I was really impressed with the roots.
It depends on the tree I believe. I learned today a mulberry tree has a two root and will grow through pots or stop growing all together. The video I watched showed how the taproot grew through plastic buckets into the dirt. Some things just can’t grow in containers
I've been using growbags for all my citrus, avocados and tropicals - I'm even using them as a temporary holding pen for some eucalyptus trees for when I redo my front yard. So far I haven't had the problem you've described. Perhaps it was the brand/type of fabric that you used? When I transplanted two of my citrus trees, the bag peeled off nicely and had a nice fibrous root system.
You may have transplanted them early enough that the trees had not yet become rootbound. My trees were in there for about 3 years. This caused the roots to start spiraling around the mix, and they weaved themselves into the fabric. This is a problem that will develop over time. The longer you leave them in the fabric pots, the higher your risk.
@@TheMillennialGardener ah that could be - ive only been growing my stuff for about a year. I’ll be sure to monitor come early spring. One other thing I was wondering for your setup - did you have your bags sitting directly on the ground, or did you have them elevated? All of mine are sitting on bricks so the bottoms of the bags get airflow and roots aren’t tempted to go into the ground.
@@TheMillennialGardener It's interesting you had so much trouble with trees getting root-bound in fabric, because the whole point of them originally was air-pruning, specifically to avoid getting root-bound. I suppose at some point it's just a matter of time, though... three years is a very short time in the life of a tree, relatively speaking.
I’m using smaller grow bags to start a number of fruit trees but mine are planned to be single use and are biodegradable so when they get bigger I’ll just plant my whole bag right in the ground or a larger pot! I love that the roots can grow right through them for this reason 😅
Thank you! You saved me from planting fruit trees on fabric grow bags that I was going to put in a 25 gallon container. I was going to use it as a liner but now I won’t. Thank you!
Wow! I was just about to plant a gorgeous plum and fig trees into grow bags this week. I'm so glad I saw this. I'll keep the bags for perennials. Thanks
I'm glad you saw this in time. One small correction: I hope you meant "I'll keep the bags for ANNUALS." I advise no perennials in grow bags. Grow bags are awesome for annuals, but the bags weave into the roots and the roots get ruined upon eventual removal.
@@TheMillennialGardener yes that is what I meant, ANNUALS ... lol I'd hate to lose my beautiful Luisa plum after a few years. Its like a mango. A locally bred variety and its so delicious.
I think for trees, an alternative is air pruning pots with its bottom suspended. With fabric grow bags, I think the bottom would lack aeration which we need for air pruning unless you suspend it with a wire mesh like chicken wire.
The roots will only puncture through if it’s laying on a flat surface where the moisture stays so the roots search for it. Same thing if you put a fabric pot on the ground it will just grow through the bag and the roots will grow into the soil. Some people stack fabric pot bags instead of up potting they just get another fabric pot and plant it directly on top and the roots just fill the bottom pot too. To use fabric pots to their full potential you have to grow them on top on a rack that has lots of air flow so water can drain and the pots can dry evenly. Doing it this way will result in the roots being truly air pruned and they won’t sow together with the pot. Yes every 2 years it’s good to take the plant out and add in new soil, But I’d do that in a plastic pot as well. So you run the risk of damaging the plant while root pruning either way. Fruit trees and figs are super resilient to root pruning so it’s fine to plant them in fabric pots.
As long as they work for you great. I am a relatively new grow. for the last 3 years I have been experimenting with solid plastic pots, grow bags and Air Pots. I do not like how the solid plastic pots cause root circling. I prefer the grow bags and especially the air pots. I grow peaches, pecans, walnuts, and other hardwoods like oaks. thanks for your comments and well produced video. it's better than I could do.
wow! thank you saving my fig tree I just repotted in the fabric bag! I am looking wide black pots.. your video really help me not to continue put my fig fruit in the bag...
I wish I could go into detail about how grow bags can be fine for fruit trees. Understanding the root system of specific species of trees really helps. A globular type root like palms and others that are very thick and mat like will inundate fabric bags within 2-3 years. If done before then there is no problem but who wants to do that every couple of years. Stone fruit; which is what I do, don't need removed but every 6-7 years and the bag is full of roots and is easily removed. The same tree in a plastic pot will have severely circled roots that are constricted and entangled, and with the best of root pruning practices still causing significant damage. The main problem with fabric pots is the mil. 10,12, and 16 mil nonwoven geofabric is better bet but must be purchased by the roll and isn't cheap. Nobody sells them so I make them myself(actually my mom). So,hopefully without offending anyone it comes down to knowledge of plant roots,a better material,and timing. Happy growing.
My point is, simply put, instead of trying to over-analyze the situation, roll the dice, play the odds and bet you won't be a victim, just get a hard container from the get-go. Hard containers are superior to grow bags for trees either way because grow bags, even if things go well, create far too much evaporation and nutrient washout in the summer. Rather than take a gamble and worry about it, just get a good container from the start. It may cost $6 more, but like you said, we're talking about $6 spread over 2-3 years, or maybe even 6-7 years depending on the variety. It's best to buy the proper tool for the job, cut corners and hope we don't destroy years of hard work when it comes time to pull the trees.
@@TheMillennialGardener I agree that the proper container from the get go is crucial. My point was that the current grow bags are NOT the correct container from the get go because they lack sufficient thickness to deal with summer time evaporation and additional problems. Manufacturing what I consider a viable grow bag would cost 4-5 times what is considered a high quality grow bag. I also pointed out the economic advantage in the long run is better when the proper tool is used but can be financially out of reach for most. Solid pots have their place and benefits in your situation but there are much better alternatives that address these problems. New advancements in container grown fruit trees. always have their problems in the beginning such as pricing, availability, and distribution. I fully understand where your coming from and your experience is valid but we must constantly look for improvements. I'm just passing my experience for the sake of advancing new technology that will benefit all. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. With all respect. Norman
@@TheMillennialGardener I understand your experience wasn't ideal, but the science behind using root pruning containers for trees is 100% sound and understandable. If the user has a bad experience you can try several other fabric pots, air pruning containers, or other options, but the long term health and benefits are 100% worth figuring out if you have any interest in the future health of your trees.
@@kong101king His experience was crap because he doesn't understand that an air gap is required to air prune. It's in the literal name of the function of the bag. Put the bag on bricks and pay attention to how words work and the trees won't end up rooted into the ground.
Thank You for this information you have gained from experience from growing trees in fabric grow bags. I wondered what would happen if I used them with trees in my greenhouse before transplanting outside. I chose to use 5 gallon buckets I recycled from a candy factory dumpster instead and thanks to you I do not regret my decision.
You're welcome! I just transplanted an overwintered pepper plant I had in a grow bag, and it ripped out about a foot's worth of roots. Grow bags are very destructive with perennials. They're good for growing annuals, but anything you expect to ever remove from the container, don't use them!
OK, so I watched the whole video and included the "Dale" part and I just wanted to say my miniature dachshund has learned to pick out the peas in his home made chicken pot pie! He doesn't mind the potatoes or the carrots, but he isn't going to eat peas! Great video. Keep it up and us informed. Like you did, I quit using grow bags for perennials and trees. Those plastic containers are perfect for trees.
That's funny. Dale loves the snap peas. He goes crazy for them. Have you ever tried snap peas? They're a lot sweeter. He likes them raw. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for your helpful video. I had the same dilema regarding grow bags vs plastic pots for tropical trees. You helped me decide to stick to plastic for the obvious reasons. Thank you.
@@TheMillennialGardener Nightmare it is. Learned the hard way! My NINO is laying on his back in the living room waiting for a belly rub. Spoiled boy !! Take care..
And then I watched a video from this guy Lou something that grows them in fabric pots and plants them in the ground. He cuts holes around the fabric for the roots to grow out of. At the end of the season he cuts around the bag removes the roots that grow outside in the soil and put them away for storage. He’s been doing it for years. Trees grow huge and roots do not circle the pots. And there is no need to go to larger pots.
He plants the trees, then digs them up every year? While that sounds admirable, it's a ton of work. Cool concept, but I don't know how realistic that is for the general population. I wouldn't mind seeing the process, though. I assume you can do the same with a hard nursery container and just cut the bottom out.
I have a one fruit tree (plum) and two japanese maples in large 22in wide fabric grow bags in my heavily building-shaded (part sun in summer), mud-or-drought north yard. Their roots have escaped into the ground (good for them), but if I ever need to transplant them it will be a fairly easy job. The lack of complete soil changes and the minimum-end light are not ideal for production... but the conditions are well within range for pretty spring flowers. Thanks to the trees, I get birds visiting all day and keeping things aphid-free for me.
Thanks for the information. I'm a beginner and so I don't understand why do we have to remove the bag anyway? Can't we just put it in a bigger bag/pot once it outgrows its old bag? And leave the old bag and let nature take care of it? Please explain.
I REALLY appreciate your videos. You mention repotting trees from these containers every 2 - 4 yrs due to being root bound, soil refreshment & fertilizer salt build-up. I think a lot of us would like to see a demonstration of how to go about doing just that in the easiest method with the least danger of damaging or losing a tree in the process. PLEASE RESPOND.
I have a different view. In a plastic pot the roots hit the solid sides of the pot and then start circling. Thats what I call root bound. Roots coming through the seams at the bottom of the pot are no bog deal, they can just be cut off or will dry off naturally. And all those fine roots attached to the inside of the pot are actually a much healthier root system ( when the root hits the fabric it essentially prunes itself and the branches out further back). In the long term, that's a much better situation that roots circling around each other in the pot.
Every potted tree will eventually have to be re-potted. This is not a problem in a standard, hard plastic container. Becoming rootbound works to your advantage, because the potted tree will pull from the container easily and cleanly. From there, you can simply root prune the root ball and re-pot it in fresh mix. Very easy. Your situation in the fabric grow bag will be a problem. 1. The bag itself is going to wear out. They only last a few seasons. 2. The potting mix inside is going to spoil. You need to replace the mix every few seasons. 3. The tree will become just as rootbound over time. You will have a big problem on your hands when it comes time to remove that bag, because it's only a matter of time until you'll have to remove it. I see no advantage in "air pruning" from a fabric bag, because the fabric bags are almost impossible to remove cleanly in most instances. If you want to air prune, buy an air pruning container. They are designed with the sides to be removable, because all container-grown trees need to be removed at some point. Going with grow bags will make it a big headache.
@@TheMillennialGardener if you want to use plastic pots, repot and and root prune, then that’s fine. Some people find that using fabric pots do away with that need. The small fine roots that mesh to the fabric are easily separated from the bag using a cake spatula. However, I find the biggest drawback for fabric pots is that they dry out so quickly, especially in very hot weather, and so require more effort when watering. You have great content in your channel. I just think saying never to use fabric pots discounts all the people who use them successfully for trees. By the way commercial tree nurseries often grow their trees in fabric pots.
Have you had to remove them yet to replace the mix and root prune? That’s when the trouble happens. They will be very difficult to remove. When the time comes, you should do it while they’re fully dormant.
@@TheMillennialGardenerI repotted last weekend and it was fine, at least to me. The blueberry roots did not really get stuck in the fabric so it was easy to remove it. So far the plants do not appear to be super stressed from it.
I have no affiliation with the brand, but the company Root Pouch makes really nice thick grow bags that are made from recycled plastic bottles. They will last a VERY long time since they are made from plastic. They are made in the USA. First time using them this growing season. Someone said to remove things from grow bags, simply unravel the pot inside/out. In essence pull the sides of the bag down carefully so that eventually the top of the bag is now at the bottom of the bag. I absolutely love the handles on it. I've already moved the bags around a lot due to acclimating new fig cutting outdoors. I had to move them to shade then out into the sun (after 3pm) to acclimate them to the strength of the sun. So far, I really like them. I shall see how things go over time. I need to up pot them eventually the 5 gallon Root Pouch bags don't seem like 5 gallon. That's my only knock on them so far. I'll move up to 10 or 15 gallons next year. Probably the 15 since that is most likely undersized too.
Some people can learn to teach and some people are born teachers, you my friend are a born teacher and I’m sure I speak for a lot of your subscribers when I say, thank you for taking the time to teach us what you know.
Thank you. I really appreciate it. I'm really interested in these things, so it makes talking about it easier. I genuinely want people to grow more! Thanks for watching!
I have a tree nursery and use rootmaker growbags exclusively. No problems whatsoever with the roots. They are definitely pricier than the black growbags. But they are amazing, the root systems are unbelievable.
I love grow bags! They've always served me well. But you're absolutely right. They are most certainly aimed at annuals. Really loving your content lately man!
I'm glad you're enjoying it. I'm trying to step my game up for this season. A lot of people have taken interest in growing food due to the mentality switch from the pandemic, and I am hoping to help motivate as many as possible. Thank you for watching!
@@TheMillennialGardener I've been growing my own food for about 15 years. But I can always learn from someone else despite our regional differences. And I have certainly noticed the effort in quality as well as the upload rate. Keep it up bud!
I rent had a similar problem with a an apple tree in a pot. It was in the pot for about 1 & 1/2 years. I tried to move it and the roots had grown thru the holes on the bottom of the plant and into the ground. Only way to move the pot was to cut the roots. Lesson learned.
I use concrete pavers underneath my pots to prevent the roots from going into the ground and just periodically check around the edges for exposed roots. But I don't plant trees in fabric pots. They grow too large to move using the handles (which I've had break and tear, negating an advantage). The large plastic pots he has shown in his videos are sturdy, they keep their shape, and have easy grip edges all of which help in maneuvering the planters when that time comes. I have two Moringa trees in fabric pots and two fabric pots with Cannas. I won't be doing that again. I thought it was a great idea but it's not for me. To each their own.
I don't think they were anticipating that sudden surge. Eventually, the interest will fall back to normal and the price will come back down, I assume. I'm glad you like the containers. They're awesome. I love mine! Thanks for watching.
I was thinking of planting a dwarf cherry tree in a fabric bag until I saw this video. I’m sure with this inflation the tree isn’t cheap and I sure wouldn’t want it to die. Makes sense as I’m sure the roots would also freeze during the winter.
I would strongly recommend a real container. Container trees will need to be pulled, root pruned and have their potting mix refreshed every few years, and this would be very difficult in a fabric bag. In a real container, it is very easy.
I’ve had a lot of luck setting them on the ground with no adverse effects. I’ve done it literally 100+ times with great success. However, you need airflow around them. Thanks for watching!
Good to know! I have some raspberries in fabric pots waiting for a bed to be made when the shed is done it will be next to. I will have to order some pots. Spent so much money on this garden already. New garden.
So, I was thinking of growing in fabric bags but dig into the ground, because I really want fruit trees but I’m in a temporary shared garden now and won’t be able to move into my own garden for another couple of years. Questions for the community: will this work? Drainage? Watering? (I can only take care of them on the weekends) is it better to leave them above ground? Or to use a plastic pot? I’m in zone 7 now, will be growing trees hardy to at least zone 6 (which is where I will move). I plan on growing satsuma, blueberries and maybe a persimmon this way. Thank you!
I had similar issue using polypropylene sacks to grow papaya. I just dug a hole and put the sack with the tree in the ground. Harvested papaya from the tree still eating them. The other two trees I cut the roots out from the bags are also flowering and look like they'll start fruiting soon
I wish they would, too. I looked everywhere, and stores seem to end at #7 nursery pots. Then, you get into the decorative pots and the larger ones are often $30+ each. It's crazy. I'm really happy with the ones I bought and will probably get another shipment of them for next season.
Agreed.The loss of roots sewn into a fabric bag is a disadvantage.The #15 moldeds you found and are using are fantastic.They are even handsome enough to use as a small veg garden on a terrace or balcony.Thanks again for another very informative video Peace from MN.
Just ordered 25 gallon bags for my new citrus trees. Glad I saw this before transplanting them. Plus the bags aren’t here yet, lol. So now I have more tomato bags. I was kind of worried about planting them in grow bags!
Just a theory... when the tree gets root-bound in a grow bag, couldn’t you just plant the whole bag into the larger pot/bag? Of course, you’d still lose the reusability of the bag
I think that under those circumstances it would have been best to PERMANENTLY plant the trees leaving the 'sewn in' materials attached to the tree. Let it 'decompose' and fall away on it's own over time under the earth, the way it would if it had been planted that way by more natural means (mistake really like you didn't know it was under the tree when you first planted it in that spot...).
@@Ms.Byrd68 Agreed. Robbie and Gary Gardening Easy have MASSIVE trees that started in 30 gallon totes and eventually broke through the totes and kept on growing. Sometimes, roots can find their own way with little help from us.
Interesting vid......I have never used those woven cloth bags but i use "Easy Lift" bags which are more thin plastic...more like a strong plastic bag which has plenty of holes for drainage and holes on the side......I find they are excellent and i have bought fruit trees in them....usually they come in 15 or 25 litre grow bags...have bought citrus trees/avocado and mangos in these bags and one thing i learnt early on...its a waste of time watering them hard out and then trying to remove them from these grow bags.....I just use scissors and cut down the sides of the bag to the base and then just peel it like a banana.....this preserves the root ball but the roots at the base do tend to stick to it but every time i plant up....i got to a solid pot similar to yours but with handles on....30/50/70 litres.......the bag gets sacrificed every time.....I could see how the roots would grow into those fabric grow bags for sure.
I'm not familiar with the "easy lift" bags you're talking about. However, if they're plastic, that should eliminate the "weaving" problem. It's the fabric material that's the problem in this case. I have to ask, if you must destroy the bag when removing it, why not just buy a nursery container from the get-go? I'm sure the bags are cheaper initially, but it can add it quickly if you're cutting them to pieces.
@@TheMillennialGardener Its more of a case that a lot of growers ...provide them in those bags when you buy the tree.....I have a mango in a 25 litre bag at the moment......i have managed to remove one once before but it took a lot of time and i had to be careful...I agree its much easier to slide out of a pot......but when selling trees they are used a lot over here.
Oh god that sounded like such a nightmare. The palm tree sewed itself in!!! That's why I side-eyed the fabric pots while researching the past month or two. THank you for this video
You're welcome. It was pretty bad. Never again; not worth the risk to me! Two beautiful Phoenix Theophrasti palms I grew from seed down the tubes. Thank you for watching.
Did the entanglement only occure in the bottom area or all around? I think overall it should be absolutely possible to grow perennials in bags but maybe the current market isn't suited for that and for someone like you that already has a great inventory it doesn't seem necessary. As the overall concept is air pruning of the roots I would assume that having a more breathable material and assuring airflow from the bottom could solve the problem. The great potential that grow bags have in my eyes is the possibility of working with compostable materials and beeing able to transplant without having to remove the bag.
Were they injection molded? The thing I like about these pots are they're injection molded and visually perfect. Most nurseries stock the cheap blow-molded, thin pots that don't last long. These pots will last 5-10 years or more. If you can get these for $3 each, you hit the jackpot!
I've never used them, so it wouldn't be fair for me to critique them. I can tell you that my summers are very hot and the sun is intense, so for me, I think they'll evaporate way too quickly, so they're not attractive to me. I'm very happy with my #15 containers.
Do you have any tips on growing watermelons in grow bags on weed barrier, out in the open? I'm about to start mine again. My patch of 7 plants (in ground) last year went out of control all over the yard despite me trying to keep it contained, and because of all the huge amounts of rain last summer, a lot of them got too waterlogged so they burst. How can I prevent that from happening again?
I have an exact video on this: ruclips.net/video/1Ad8TJ-MsqE/видео.html It's on growing watermelon in a fabric grow bag on weed barrier. I had no issue with the heat of the barrier, and it's extremely hot here. What I found was the hot micro-climate actually kept the pests OFF all my melons. I had no issues with any pests. No beetles, no ants, no nothing. When I grew watermelon out in the lawn, they were covered in beetles, so I think the weed barrier actually keeps them away. The key is to direct the vines early in their lifespan. Point them in the direction in where you want to go. Once a vine forms 1-2 melons, you can also cut the vine to keep them from growing too large. I didn't have to do that because I find grow bags dwarf them some.
I grow. My fruit trees in grow bags. I use the root pouch, I can’t repot bc is spring. I have used other grow bags in the past and the roots do grown through the bags. I haven’t seen that happen with root pouch grow bags. I will cross fingers and hope for the best until I up pot my lemon tree in the fall. Thanks
I want to plant persimmon trees in big grow bags IN ground. So when I move, I can transplant it. They don’t like their taproot amputated. Also want to plant my American rootstocks in these bags, IN ground. That way I won’t have to water as much in the summer. Bad idea?
Bananas grow from a rhizome. They are not made of wood and do not have hard roots or tiny feeder roots. However, I would not grow a banana in a bag again because, once again, it had to be cut off to be removed. That banana was removed 3 years ago and I wouldn’t grow another like it again.
I like plastic grow bags. They're cheap, durable, often ship free, and store flat. Of course, the lack of rigid bottoms means they should be placed on a pallet or on ground with good drainage. They make me happy in my dry-summer climate. (alternatively or in addition, punch more holes on the very bottom of the sides) For trees, perennials, or faux-raised beds it's easy to reinforce the sides with a roll of fencing / chicken wire... this makes moving them, emptying them, or applying support stakes much more managable. And it's not very hard to beautify, either, by smacking decorative fencing or burlap on top of that. I also actually *like* the lack of handles on plastic grow bags - where I live, someone could easily walk off with my plants.
Do you have any videos/pictures of the roots woven into grow bags? Does this issue happen with large houseplants as well for example a monstera deliciosa.
While the video was very good, Dale stole the video. My wife and I were laughing so hard watching his later focus in addition to your commentary. Down the road, we will demand you consider a Dale compilation. Thanks
Dale is the best person I've ever met. Sorry, humans. He takes the cake (figuratively and literally)! I wish I had the time to make him his own channel. He is the quirkiest, most nuanced creature I've ever met. I've never met a person with more personality than him. I swear, he is a reincarnated person or something. I'm glad you enjoy him!
Thank you very much for providing that “public service announcement”. I will be ordering a palm tree next week so the provision of the info regarding the fabric grow bags was timely for me.
the area I want to plant a couple fig trees, kiwi's and berries is pretty wet. I thought of using a grow bag instead of building a raised bed to help lift the roots slightly out of the wet ground would this be ok if I never plan to move the berries just want to raise the roots out of lots of water. I thought of cutting the bottom of the bag clear out to allow roots to grow down over time.
It's in the video description. If you're on a desktop/laptop, click SHOW MORE under the video, or click the little down arrow on your phone to the right of the title under the video. It's the first link in the description.
The problem is the grow bag itself. Going bigger won’t help. It is the material that doesn’t work for perennials. Fruit trees need a hard container. Fabric pots shouldn’t be used. It is only a matter of time until they cause problems.
it sounds like this do wonderful in the grow bags until the issue appears a few years down the road, seems like its still worth wild to use the grow bags to create a nice root ball before transplanting them later on
Hi I never done a garden and I want to start a tomatoes on my back porch. What do you recommend? I don't have any where else to plant it. I want a tomatoes, watermelon, cucumbers, basil, parsley and onions all on my back porch. is this to much to start with?
For tomatoes, I actually recommend the fabric grow bags if you can't plant them in-ground. I recommend #20 fabric grow bags for indeterminate tomatoes, and #7 fabric grow bags for dwarf and determinate tomatoes. Because the tomatoes have to be ripped out come fall, the fabric grow bags work very well. For watermelons and cucumbers, #20 grow bags are ideal. For basil and parsley, the #3 grow bags are good. Onions are a little tricky because they grow best in rows, so you'll want something long and at least 12 inches deep to grow them (but deeper is better). If you can't find something, #20 or larger grow bags can work.
That is bizarre, especially given how quickly they dry out. They must have a root rot problem. Are they their mother trees? I can't imagine them selling plants in bags. That's a nightmare for the customers.
I bought 2 apple trees in grow bags and transplanting them was easier than my potted trees. I didn’t have the same experience. My apples trees were 6 and 7 ft tall.
In my experience, there’s nothing better than fabric pots to grow fruit trees in, especially if your intent is to have it going into the ground, so I guess it depends on your intentionality; my fabric pot trees outgrew every one of my conventional nursery pots; if I’m putting a tree into the ground, I will start it in a 45 gallon grow back every time
Thanks for the enlightenment, not that it makes me happy as l have got a plum tree in a grow bag & intended still to get an avocado tree and a peach tree still to also grow in a growbag. But will now have to look at another solution.
When it comes time to remove the bag from the plum tree, make sure you do so in dormancy in case the roots take damage in the transplant. I've found these pots to be the most successful for me, personally: ruclips.net/video/LuBHbBmh3hU/видео.html
I ordered the 5 gallon containers from that seller. When I got the containers they had a VERY strong chemical smell. Did your containers smell bad? Also that puzzle bowl is great.
No, there was no smell at all. Not even the faintest hint of an odor. Sometimes, those lawn and garden items ship in giant containers or trucks with fertilizers and other chemicals. I would hose them off really well. Any time I buy containers I rinse them off just in case there is some contact residue. See if they smell after hosing them off with a strong jet of water. Get all over - inside, bottom, sides, etc.
@@TheMillennialGardener I will try to clean them but if they still smell like chemicals I am worried about growing stuff in them. They are Number 2 which is safe, but I never smelled anything like this.
I don't use clay pots because they're heavy, they're expensive, they can be fragile, and they wick water away from the root ball, which encourages the root ball to dry out faster. It's very hot where I live, so keeping potted plants adequately watered is a challenge.
No. It gets very hot where I live, and containers dry out quickly. Those types of containers are very prone to drying out, and they're not something that I believe are suitable to most environments for that reason.
Is it possible this happened because the bottom of your grow bag was in direct contact with wet grass/soil, preventing the natural air pruning from happening that would otherwise occur if the bag was getting air on the bottom?
I think I just bought a couple bags of the orange-bagged MiracleGro potting mix for citrus, cactus and succulents. You want a fast-draining mix for citrus.
It's not too hard. I have a video on it here: ruclips.net/video/-oOwNiZzGmM/видео.html It's best to do when trees are dormant if they have a dormancy period.
Wow! Thanks for the warning. I'm just getting into grow bags and I wouldn't want to lose any tree or bushes I lovingly tended for a period of time. Glad to see Dale doing so well. He's got a great dad.🙂
@@iska1978 sorry, but it is better to warn you now than lose the trees years from now. These bags are outstanding for annual vegetables, so they can be used for growing any kind of warm season crop.
I planted a bunch of veggies in grow bags this year, but the same veggies in the ground are doing MUCH better. Not so sure I'm convinced that these are the best option IF you can put plants in the earth.
In almost all cases, planting things in-ground are going to perform better. After all, that's where plants belong. Plants don't grow in containers, naturally. There are instances where container-grown things will do better, like if you have root knot nematodes in your soil (commonly problematic in Florida), you live in very alkaline, hard clay full of salts (common in the desert Southwest), you have very poor quality soil, etc. Other considerations are climate-related. If you want to grow a mango tree, avocado tree and fig tree and you live in Zone 5b, you'll have to grow them in containers. But, the general rule of thumb is, if you have the space, you have the climate and you have decent soil, plant it in-ground. I grow figs in containers for space reasons (because I can't fit everything I want in-ground), and because I like to trial them first before I dedicate precious in-ground space. I grow citrus and coffee in containers because my climate is too cold for them to survive in-ground. Everything else goes in the earth.
You had the fabric pots sitting on the ground I assume. The fabric pot air prunes the roots and they die when exposed to the air. You either had the fabric saturated all the time or like I said they were sitting on the ground allowing the bottom to stay moist.
As trees age, the roots become larger and more lignified. It doesn’t matter where you place the bags. The roots will eventually harden and grow through the bags. These bags are not designed for trees. They are designed for annual vegetables.
@@TheMillennialGardener You are probably right. I change my soil anually and root prune so I haven't really ran into this problem. I also haven't grown very large trees for say ten years in the same size pot. I use them for citrus trees, jaboticaba, starfruit ect. When I take the bag off to change soil the roots are not even bound to the bag.
Great advise, I want to grow fruit trees in containers to but the fact, that the roots can tear is a real bummer. What about airports, sure they are expensive, but I have seen really big trees in a 10l container (sorry I'm from Germany). I have very limited space and want to make the most out of it. Thanks again for the video, came at the right time :)
I do not have any experience with those air-pruning pots, so I cannot say if they are good or bad. I have concerns with them because eventually the potting mix will need to be replaced (every 3 years or so). I think some of the designs allow them to unscrew and break down into a piece of screen, basically. That feature is imperative because I would not want to have to pull a tree out of them.
I am growing trees in grow bags with thick layer of plastic underneath to hopefully avoid the roots from growing through the bag, if i need to i will sacrifice the bag rather than cut the roots, cut as much of that off as i can and leave the rest in the new bag
I cut the bag off, but the damage was too catastrophic even with that method. For this reason, I recommend just going with a hard container from the start when it comes to trees. If you're using these bags for trees, you may want to consider moving them before they fill out the bag. Once they begin weaving in, it's a big problem.
@@TheMillennialGardener i donation have any other options i plan to grow them there until they die i will be moving them into bigger ones in a few months when winter really hits so i will see if the plastic underneath has helped, if they die so be it i will take some air layers before then of the ones i really like otherwise they will be going in thier final large comtainer or if it is a noticable problem i will get some big pots. The banana is in its final 30 gallon bag already but i am planning to plant a pup in the ground when i get some, the owner doesn't want any trees planted so i will just sacrifice one of my veggie patches and say it's not a tree its a herb and see if that works, ha. Cheers for sharing your experience but, definitely appreciate it but I've looked around and this seems like the best option for me at the moment, money wise especially, i was also thinking of elevating them off the ground a little and keep the plastic there but just in case it does get through it should be able to air prune, maybe still just playing here more than anything, but i do have plans to move some soon so i will definitely keep an eye on it, also i have alot on concrete so I'm not too worried about them
When things leaf out, yes. It probably won’t be another 4-6 weeks until some of my new cuttings can be transplanted. It has been a slow year due to the cold, wet winter. Probably sometime in May.
Puzzle bowls are FANTASTIC if you have a gorging eater. They can be, literally, life-saving for deep-chested dogs like Dale. They tend to speed-eat and they can actually die from bloat if they overeat too quickly. It can be a serious problem. He used to finish his meal in less than 60 seconds. Now, it takes 2-3 minutes. He's still eating quickly, but it's not dangerous anymore. Thank you for watching!
No. I am using these for figs and figs tend to love heat. In fact, that's why I put all the black weed barrier down - to make the area even hotter for the figs. I'm looking forward to increasing the heat of the figs with these black containers even more. If you live somewhere like Phoenix and Las Vegas where it is 115 in the summer, it may be too much, but here on the NC coast where it's 92-94 degrees every day and humid, it's been very beneficial.
No. I do not want to use any air pruning pots, if that’s what they are. Pots here dry out very quickly in our sun, and those types of pots will not work well.
@@TheMillennialGardener Yes they are air pruning pots. But they do have 3 or 4 different kinds including a white grow bag type pot that is supposed to not dry out quickly. Have you read Dr.Whitcomb's research on tree root development?
I have not. The black pots are a secret to my fig success, though. They get much warmer. A white pot would be detrimental to fig growth. They love warmth.
Why did you have to cut the root mass out of the fabric? Couldnt you have just set the entire bag inside the new pot? Maybe trim off the top layer so its not sticking out of the dirt and just bury it If the fabric pot isnt sitting on dirt, the roots wont dig into the ground, so that ones not really a threat for certain situations How does root pruning happen in the wild? Is it strictly necessary, or does it only need to be done in gardening conditions?
NC local myself. 😊 We live just on the other side of Asheville Thanks for the advice, been looking into grow bags for my regular indoor veggie garden stuff since things I like to grow/ eat year round tend to freeze in January, but I planned on starting some honeycrisp apple trees this year & I'm glad I saw this beforehand. Also, Dale doggo is very cute. I have a Pyrenees that eats a raw diet, and we feed her with a puzzle bowl too.
Hello all! I have 12 baby bare root trees approx 12" each from the Arbor Day Foundation. 5 Flowering White Dogwood, 5 Eastern Redbud and 2 Crepe Myrtle Shrubs. I want to start them (for about a year or so) in fabric grow pots. What size is best to start with for these? 2 gallon? 3 gallon? 3gallon is taller so seems good for trees, but I think the root system on the redbud grows a deep root system and the dogwood is more shallow and the crepe myrtle has a fibrous root system...what to do?
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I use fabric pots extensively to grow trees (I have a tree nursery, mostly hardwood nut trees, christmas trees, landscape screening conifers, and anything else I think is cool). The fact that the roots get entangled and trapped in the fabric is actually the reason why I use the pots... that is their purpose. When the roots hit the fabric, they are forced to stop growing and force the tree to form a more fibrous root system. Theses pots effectively root prune for you. You can even grow them with the bags in the ground to get the best of both worlds (in ground moisture, weather protection, and nutrients + root pruning).
Yes, some trees, like I learned most recently with Eastern Redbud, grow through the pots very aggressively during the growing season if they are not suspended, but that just means I have to manually root prune a few that escape DURING THEIR DORMANT PERIOD over the winter. The remaining roots that get trapped add to the fibrous root system within the pot itself so I still have a superior root system without having to manually root prune all the time.
I can see why you wouldn't want this when your trees have no dormant period or trees that already have a fibrous root system (like palms), but if you have tap-root trees that you would want to root prune (which you MUST if you want a healthy in ground tree decades from today) then these are great. If you let a root start circling the pot, then you just set an early expiration date on your tree as the roots will strangle the tree when it grows larger...and root pruning once every couple years is not enough, you have to do it often to get an adequately fibrous root system.
Also, yes you have to destroy the pots to get them off once they serve their purpose of root pruning, but I suppose that doesn't bother me because their purpose was to root prune, not serve as a long term pot. The fabric generally breaks down anyway over a few years so I don't see the heartburn with having to cut them up once you are done with them.
Thanks for sharing. Always great to learn the practices of a pro. I'm curious about the "DURING THEIR DORMANT PERIOD" comment. From your experience, if done out of dormancy, would it cause just a few weeks setback or actually long-term health of a tree? Also, for evergreens, is it worth it to wait for the winter? I'm assuming that time of year is as dormant as they'll get, but I'm also guessing they're more susceptible in the cold.
I wouldn't want my trees feeding of these cheap fabrics... 😂 just line the pots...
@@sharaudramey9336 line then with what? Copper?
@@slicktmi Try banana leaves, coir. Reusable, biodegradable plastic? Use your 🥥.
@@oftenwrongphong I grow orchards of apple, pear and plum orchards, I learned that pears don't like being transplanted, no matter how careful I was to protect the rootball. That's how I learned about 'transplant shock' - the hard way. Now I only transplant and repot pears in winter, I try to do the same with my apples and plums too - just in case.
jump to @3:40 Please understand that the one and true purpose of a grow bag is to air prune the root system. If you allow a tree to be in direct contact with the soil, there is no air layer to prune away the roots. This is the case with any plant, although trees have much stronger roots than say a tomato plant. When you grow a tree in a bag, it has to be on a pallet. If the bag touches the ground, you will root bound any plant. I like to use pallets under grow bags, although the cheap metal bed frames at the thrift store work too if you sit them on top of cinder blocks. So go back to grow bags and AIR PRUNE AIR PRUNE AIR PRUNE those Roots
Also if you have fertilizer salt build up, got to an all organic feeding system, if you need to refresh the soil you likely need a larger bag to accommodate the tree. In Denmark they grow full sized trees in geotextile.
Thanks for the summary!
I’ve used the #30 for a bunch of trees, going on 5 years.
Fig, lemon, clementine, lime, peach, and I believe an apple but frost killed that.
The only drawback is having to protect the roots during winter when it frosts. The roots are Mose sensitive since they are above ground. That’s why my apple tree died, other than that have had good success growing fruit in fabric pots
nice to know any more tips ?am planning to grow figs & lime in grow bags.
@I AM SUNBODY TV pile up mulch mound around each pot
There is no proof fabric pots improve anything other than having to use more water.
@@thrishulh9834put the old bag inside a bigger fabric bag and fill with soil no
Crazy! I've never had that happen with my figs, olives, apples or blueberries, they all air prune just like they are supposed to. I've removed them to up pot or refresh and I was really impressed with the roots.
It depends on the tree I believe. I learned today a mulberry tree has a two root and will grow through pots or stop growing all together. The video I watched showed how the taproot grew through plastic buckets into the dirt. Some things just can’t grow in containers
I've been using growbags for all my citrus, avocados and tropicals - I'm even using them as a temporary holding pen for some eucalyptus trees for when I redo my front yard. So far I haven't had the problem you've described. Perhaps it was the brand/type of fabric that you used? When I transplanted two of my citrus trees, the bag peeled off nicely and had a nice fibrous root system.
You may have transplanted them early enough that the trees had not yet become rootbound. My trees were in there for about 3 years. This caused the roots to start spiraling around the mix, and they weaved themselves into the fabric. This is a problem that will develop over time. The longer you leave them in the fabric pots, the higher your risk.
@@TheMillennialGardener ah that could be - ive only been growing my stuff for about a year. I’ll be sure to monitor come early spring. One other thing I was wondering for your setup - did you have your bags sitting directly on the ground, or did you have them elevated? All of mine are sitting on bricks so the bottoms of the bags get airflow and roots aren’t tempted to go into the ground.
@@TheMillennialGardener It's interesting you had so much trouble with trees getting root-bound in fabric, because the whole point of them originally was air-pruning, specifically to avoid getting root-bound.
I suppose at some point it's just a matter of time, though... three years is a very short time in the life of a tree, relatively speaking.
Amen 🙏. Thanks so much brother for all the information because this spring I have added fabric bags to my garden for more planting 😊
I’m using smaller grow bags to start a number of fruit trees but mine are planned to be single use and are biodegradable so when they get bigger I’ll just plant my whole bag right in the ground or a larger pot! I love that the roots can grow right through them for this reason 😅
good idea
Always check and see just how much biodegradable pots have degraded. They don't always work as advertised.
THIS!
Such a drama. I grow fruit trees in fabric pots for years and don't have any problems with it.
How often do you remove the pots? When was the last time you've rooted-pruned and refreshed your soil, and how many trees do you have growing?
I thought the advantage of the bags was to promote air pruning of the roots?🙏🏻
@@1cleandude he didn't raise the bottom. That's his mistake
@@jamescatlover123 raise the bottom? I don't understand can you explain?
@@DaBuDaSak Placing the fabric pot on a pallet or some sort of platform to lift it off the ground and keep it fully exposed to air
Thank you! You saved me from planting fruit trees on fabric grow bags that I was going to put in a 25 gallon container. I was going to use it as a liner but now I won’t. Thank you!
Glad to help you avoid a potential problem! Best of luck and thanks for watching.
Wow! I was just about to plant a gorgeous plum and fig trees into grow bags this week. I'm so glad I saw this. I'll keep the bags for perennials. Thanks
I'm glad you saw this in time. One small correction: I hope you meant "I'll keep the bags for ANNUALS." I advise no perennials in grow bags. Grow bags are awesome for annuals, but the bags weave into the roots and the roots get ruined upon eventual removal.
@@TheMillennialGardener yes that is what I meant, ANNUALS ... lol I'd hate to lose my beautiful Luisa plum after a few years. Its like a mango. A locally bred variety and its so delicious.
I think for trees, an alternative is air pruning pots with its bottom suspended. With fabric grow bags, I think the bottom would lack aeration which we need for air pruning unless you suspend it with a wire mesh like chicken wire.
The roots will only puncture through if it’s laying on a flat surface where the moisture stays so the roots search for it. Same thing if you put a fabric pot on the ground it will just grow through the bag and the roots will grow into the soil. Some people stack fabric pot bags instead of up potting they just get another fabric pot and plant it directly on top and the roots just fill the bottom pot too.
To use fabric pots to their full potential you have to grow them on top on a rack that has lots of air flow so water can drain and the pots can dry evenly. Doing it this way will result in the roots being truly air pruned and they won’t sow together with the pot.
Yes every 2 years it’s good to take the plant out and add in new soil, But I’d do that in a plastic pot as well. So you run the risk of damaging the plant while root pruning either way. Fruit trees and figs are super resilient to root pruning so it’s fine to plant them in fabric pots.
As long as they work for you great. I am a relatively new grow. for the last 3 years I have been experimenting with solid plastic pots, grow bags and Air Pots. I do not like how the solid plastic pots cause root circling. I prefer the grow bags and especially the air pots. I grow peaches, pecans, walnuts, and other hardwoods like oaks. thanks for your comments and well produced video. it's better than I could do.
wow! thank you saving my fig tree I just repotted in the fabric bag! I am looking wide black pots.. your video really help me not to continue put my fig fruit in the bag...
I wish I could go into detail about how grow bags can be fine for fruit trees.
Understanding the root system of specific species of trees really helps.
A globular type root like palms and others that are very thick and mat like will inundate fabric bags within 2-3 years.
If done before then there is no problem but who wants to do that every couple of years.
Stone fruit; which is what I do, don't need removed but every 6-7 years and the bag is full of roots and is easily removed.
The same tree in a plastic pot will have severely circled roots that are constricted and entangled, and with the best of root pruning practices still causing significant damage.
The main problem with fabric pots is the mil.
10,12, and 16 mil nonwoven geofabric is better bet but must be purchased by the roll and isn't cheap.
Nobody sells them so I make them myself(actually my mom).
So,hopefully without offending anyone it comes down to knowledge of plant roots,a better material,and timing.
Happy growing.
My point is, simply put, instead of trying to over-analyze the situation, roll the dice, play the odds and bet you won't be a victim, just get a hard container from the get-go. Hard containers are superior to grow bags for trees either way because grow bags, even if things go well, create far too much evaporation and nutrient washout in the summer. Rather than take a gamble and worry about it, just get a good container from the start. It may cost $6 more, but like you said, we're talking about $6 spread over 2-3 years, or maybe even 6-7 years depending on the variety. It's best to buy the proper tool for the job, cut corners and hope we don't destroy years of hard work when it comes time to pull the trees.
@@TheMillennialGardener I agree that the proper container from the get go is crucial.
My point was that the current grow bags are NOT the correct container from the get go because they lack sufficient thickness to deal with summer time evaporation and additional problems.
Manufacturing what I consider a viable grow bag would cost 4-5 times what is considered a high quality grow bag.
I also pointed out the economic advantage in the long run is better when the proper tool is used but can be financially out of reach for most.
Solid pots have their place and benefits in your situation but there are much better alternatives that address these problems.
New advancements in container grown fruit trees. always have their problems in the beginning such as pricing, availability, and distribution.
I fully understand where your coming from and your experience is valid but we must constantly look for improvements.
I'm just passing my experience for the sake of advancing new technology that will benefit all.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
With all respect.
Norman
@@TheMillennialGardener I understand your experience wasn't ideal, but the science behind using root pruning containers for trees is 100% sound and understandable. If the user has a bad experience you can try several other fabric pots, air pruning containers, or other options, but the long term health and benefits are 100% worth figuring out if you have any interest in the future health of your trees.
@@TheMillennialGardener Really a clay pot is better than plastic or fabric. You really do get what you pay for.😉
@@kong101king His experience was crap because he doesn't understand that an air gap is required to air prune. It's in the literal name of the function of the bag. Put the bag on bricks and pay attention to how words work and the trees won't end up rooted into the ground.
Thank You for this information you have gained from experience from growing trees in fabric grow bags. I wondered what would happen if I used them with trees in my greenhouse before transplanting outside. I chose to use 5 gallon buckets I recycled from a candy factory dumpster instead and thanks to you I do not regret my decision.
You're welcome! I just transplanted an overwintered pepper plant I had in a grow bag, and it ripped out about a foot's worth of roots. Grow bags are very destructive with perennials. They're good for growing annuals, but anything you expect to ever remove from the container, don't use them!
@@TheMillennialGardener Thank You. Good Teacher
OK, so I watched the whole video and included the "Dale" part and I just wanted to say my miniature dachshund has learned to pick out the peas in his home made chicken pot pie! He doesn't mind the potatoes or the carrots, but he isn't going to eat peas! Great video. Keep it up and us informed. Like you did, I quit using grow bags for perennials and trees. Those plastic containers are perfect for trees.
That's funny. Dale loves the snap peas. He goes crazy for them. Have you ever tried snap peas? They're a lot sweeter. He likes them raw. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for your helpful video. I had the same dilema regarding grow bags vs plastic pots for tropical trees. You helped me decide to stick to plastic for the obvious reasons. Thank you.
Thank you but I already experienced the same problem. No grow bags here. Dale!! You are the man ! Young,healthy and full of energy ! See ya ...
You had the root-sewn issue, too? Isn't it a nightmare?
Dale says hi. It's 85 degrees here today, so he's passing out in the AC upstairs. Lucky dog!
@@TheMillennialGardener Nightmare it is. Learned the hard way! My NINO is laying on his back in the living room waiting for a belly rub. Spoiled boy !! Take care..
@@02155Tony Thanks for watching!
And then I watched a video from this guy Lou something that grows them in fabric pots and plants them in the ground. He cuts holes around the fabric for the roots to grow out of. At the end of the season he cuts around the bag removes the roots that grow outside in the soil and put them away for storage. He’s been doing it for years. Trees grow huge and roots do not circle the pots. And there is no need to go to larger pots.
I'd love to see that video.
He plants the trees, then digs them up every year? While that sounds admirable, it's a ton of work. Cool concept, but I don't know how realistic that is for the general population. I wouldn't mind seeing the process, though. I assume you can do the same with a hard nursery container and just cut the bottom out.
Lou monti
@@TheMillennialGardener in that case you cut holes only to the side. Roots out of the bottom will make the plant nearly impossible to remove.
@@kicknadeadcat Thank you! I'm going to try tat with my figs and citrus trees.
I have a one fruit tree (plum) and two japanese maples in large 22in wide fabric grow bags in my heavily building-shaded (part sun in summer), mud-or-drought north yard. Their roots have escaped into the ground (good for them), but if I ever need to transplant them it will be a fairly easy job.
The lack of complete soil changes and the minimum-end light are not ideal for production... but the conditions are well within range for pretty spring flowers.
Thanks to the trees, I get birds visiting all day and keeping things aphid-free for me.
Thanks for the information. I'm a beginner and so I don't understand why do we have to remove the bag anyway? Can't we just put it in a bigger bag/pot once it outgrows its old bag? And leave the old bag and let nature take care of it? Please explain.
I REALLY appreciate your videos. You mention repotting trees from these containers every 2 - 4 yrs due to being root bound, soil refreshment & fertilizer salt build-up. I think a lot of us would like to see a demonstration of how to go about doing just that in the easiest method with the least danger of damaging or losing a tree in the process. PLEASE RESPOND.
I have a video demonstrating exactly that here: ruclips.net/video/-oOwNiZzGmM/видео.html
I have a different view. In a plastic pot the roots hit the solid sides of the pot and then start circling. Thats what I call root bound. Roots coming through the seams at the bottom of the pot are no bog deal, they can just be cut off or will dry off naturally. And all those fine roots attached to the inside of the pot are actually a much healthier root system ( when the root hits the fabric it essentially prunes itself and the branches out further back). In the long term, that's a much better situation that roots circling around each other in the pot.
Every potted tree will eventually have to be re-potted. This is not a problem in a standard, hard plastic container. Becoming rootbound works to your advantage, because the potted tree will pull from the container easily and cleanly. From there, you can simply root prune the root ball and re-pot it in fresh mix. Very easy. Your situation in the fabric grow bag will be a problem.
1. The bag itself is going to wear out. They only last a few seasons.
2. The potting mix inside is going to spoil. You need to replace the mix every few seasons.
3. The tree will become just as rootbound over time.
You will have a big problem on your hands when it comes time to remove that bag, because it's only a matter of time until you'll have to remove it. I see no advantage in "air pruning" from a fabric bag, because the fabric bags are almost impossible to remove cleanly in most instances. If you want to air prune, buy an air pruning container. They are designed with the sides to be removable, because all container-grown trees need to be removed at some point. Going with grow bags will make it a big headache.
@@TheMillennialGardener if you want to use plastic pots, repot and and root prune, then that’s fine. Some people find that using fabric pots do away with that need.
The small fine roots that mesh to the fabric are easily separated from the bag using a cake spatula.
However, I find the biggest drawback for fabric pots is that they dry out so quickly, especially in very hot weather, and so require more effort when watering.
You have great content in your channel. I just think saying never to use fabric pots discounts all the people who use them successfully for trees. By the way commercial tree nurseries often grow their trees in fabric pots.
I planted my blueberries using fabric grow bags. It’s been 3 years now and it served me well. Watering was done using drip irrigation. No issues.
Have you had to remove them yet to replace the mix and root prune? That’s when the trouble happens. They will be very difficult to remove. When the time comes, you should do it while they’re fully dormant.
@@TheMillennialGardenerI repotted last weekend and it was fine, at least to me. The blueberry roots did not really get stuck in the fabric so it was easy to remove it. So far the plants do not appear to be super stressed from it.
Blueberry should be fine because blueberry has small stems and root size compared to big fruit tree and palm tree. Blueberry roots are shallow.
I have no affiliation with the brand, but the company Root Pouch makes really nice thick grow bags that are made from recycled plastic bottles. They will last a VERY long time since they are made from plastic. They are made in the USA. First time using them this growing season. Someone said to remove things from grow bags, simply unravel the pot inside/out. In essence pull the sides of the bag down carefully so that eventually the top of the bag is now at the bottom of the bag. I absolutely love the handles on it. I've already moved the bags around a lot due to acclimating new fig cutting outdoors. I had to move them to shade then out into the sun (after 3pm) to acclimate them to the strength of the sun. So far, I really like them. I shall see how things go over time. I need to up pot them eventually the 5 gallon Root Pouch bags don't seem like 5 gallon. That's my only knock on them so far. I'll move up to 10 or 15 gallons next year. Probably the 15 since that is most likely undersized too.
Out of all the gardening videos I've seen this fellow is the most practical and helpful 👍👍👍
Yeah he 💯 is !!
Thank you! I really appreciate that.
@@korlimservices4180 thank you!
New subscriber for this EXACT reason! (And b/c of “Dale, acknowledge my existence.” 😂😂 And the many helpful fig tree videos I’ve binge watched 👀).
Thank you for your advice, as I was just considering planting my fig tree in a grow bag. The video is very helpful.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching.
Some people can learn to teach and some people are born teachers, you my friend are a born teacher and I’m sure I speak for a lot of your subscribers when I say, thank you for taking the time to teach us what you know.
Thank you. I really appreciate it. I'm really interested in these things, so it makes talking about it easier. I genuinely want people to grow more! Thanks for watching!
I have a tree nursery and use rootmaker growbags exclusively. No problems whatsoever with the roots. They are definitely pricier than the black growbags. But they are amazing, the root systems are unbelievable.
Well, you saved me from a huge disaster!! Thank you so much for sharing this info🌱🌱🌱🌱🥰🥰🥰
Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
I love grow bags! They've always served me well. But you're absolutely right. They are most certainly aimed at annuals. Really loving your content lately man!
I'm glad you're enjoying it. I'm trying to step my game up for this season. A lot of people have taken interest in growing food due to the mentality switch from the pandemic, and I am hoping to help motivate as many as possible. Thank you for watching!
@@TheMillennialGardener I've been growing my own food for about 15 years. But I can always learn from someone else despite our regional differences. And I have certainly noticed the effort in quality as well as the upload rate. Keep it up bud!
@@shpuply thank you. It’s a lot of hours but it’s a labor of love.
I rent had a similar problem with a an apple tree in a pot. It was in the pot for about 1 & 1/2 years. I tried to move it and the roots had grown thru the holes on the bottom of the plant and into the ground. Only way to move the pot was to cut the roots. Lesson learned.
What a great informative video. Thanks so much!!
I’m happy to hear that! Thank you for watching.
I use concrete pavers underneath my pots to prevent the roots from going into the ground and just periodically check around the edges for exposed roots. But I don't plant trees in fabric pots. They grow too large to move using the handles (which I've had break and tear, negating an advantage). The large plastic pots he has shown in his videos are sturdy, they keep their shape, and have easy grip edges all of which help in maneuvering the planters when that time comes. I have two Moringa trees in fabric pots and two fabric pots with Cannas. I won't be doing that again. I thought it was a great idea but it's not for me. To each their own.
Purchased these thru your store. So glad I did. The containers are great and wow did the price of them go up in a couple of weeks!
I don't think they were anticipating that sudden surge. Eventually, the interest will fall back to normal and the price will come back down, I assume. I'm glad you like the containers. They're awesome. I love mine! Thanks for watching.
I was thinking of planting a dwarf cherry tree in a fabric bag until I saw this video. I’m sure with this inflation the tree isn’t cheap and I sure wouldn’t want it to die. Makes sense as I’m sure the roots would also freeze during the winter.
I would strongly recommend a real container. Container trees will need to be pulled, root pruned and have their potting mix refreshed every few years, and this would be very difficult in a fabric bag. In a real container, it is very easy.
Very helpful tips. i ran into these problems with fabric bags. thanks for sharing
Sorry to hear that. It is terrible losing something that you invested so much time and energy into. Thanks for watching.
Good information and the bags dry out.. fast once the roots are established I agree with you take care!
Glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching!
What they don't tell you about grow bags is that they don't work unless they have aeration against all sides of the bag including the bottom.
I’ve had a lot of luck setting them on the ground with no adverse effects. I’ve done it literally 100+ times with great success. However, you need airflow around them. Thanks for watching!
I am wandering where can I buy the black plastic pots! Thanks your help...
Good to know! I have some raspberries in fabric pots waiting for a bed to be made when the shed is done it will be next to. I will have to order some pots. Spent so much money on this garden already. New garden.
I feel your pain. The expenses never end. I just bought an entire trunkload of brick from Lowe's. I need to start a tab there 😅 Thanks for watching!
So, I was thinking of growing in fabric bags but dig into the ground, because I really want fruit trees but I’m in a temporary shared garden now and won’t be able to move into my own garden for another couple of years. Questions for the community: will this work? Drainage? Watering? (I can only take care of them on the weekends) is it better to leave them above ground? Or to use a plastic pot? I’m in zone 7 now, will be growing trees hardy to at least zone 6 (which is where I will move). I plan on growing satsuma, blueberries and maybe a persimmon this way. Thank you!
I had similar issue using polypropylene sacks to grow papaya. I just dug a hole and put the sack with the tree in the ground. Harvested papaya from the tree still eating them. The other two trees I cut the roots out from the bags are also flowering and look like they'll start fruiting soon
Great video, they really should sell more of these large containers in stores at fair prices
I wish they would, too. I looked everywhere, and stores seem to end at #7 nursery pots. Then, you get into the decorative pots and the larger ones are often $30+ each. It's crazy. I'm really happy with the ones I bought and will probably get another shipment of them for next season.
Agreed.The loss of roots sewn into a fabric bag is a disadvantage.The #15 moldeds you found and are using are fantastic.They are even handsome enough to use as a small veg garden on a terrace or balcony.Thanks again for another very informative video Peace from MN.
Thanks for watching! Hope it's warming up your way! It's 85 here today, but we have a forecast low of 35 next week. I'm nervous! 😮
Just ordered 25 gallon bags for my new citrus trees. Glad I saw this before transplanting them. Plus the bags aren’t here yet, lol. So now I have more tomato bags. I was kind of worried about planting them in grow bags!
I think it is an accident waiting to happen. I prefer self-watering hard plastic containers for citrus, personally.
Thank you so much i was really considering using fabric. What i REALLY want is big terracotta pots but they're kind of expensive and also heavy.
Great tips on grower bags , and thanks for sharing 😍 Your video trailer is hilarious 😂
Thanks for watching! Dale is so funny. He really has a so much personality.
Just a theory... when the tree gets root-bound in a grow bag, couldn’t you just plant the whole bag into the larger pot/bag? Of course, you’d still lose the reusability of the bag
I am not sure what the effects of that would be. Honestly, it's easier to just avoid the whole minefield and not use them for trees.
I think that under those circumstances it would have been best to PERMANENTLY plant the trees leaving the 'sewn in' materials attached to the tree. Let it 'decompose' and fall away on it's own over time under the earth, the way it would if it had been planted that way by more natural means (mistake really like you didn't know it was under the tree when you first planted it in that spot...).
@@Ms.Byrd68 Agreed. Robbie and Gary Gardening Easy have MASSIVE trees that started in 30 gallon totes and eventually broke through the totes and kept on growing. Sometimes, roots can find their own way with little help from us.
Can grow bags be a permanent home for a tree? I plan to plant moringa.
Interesting vid......I have never used those woven cloth bags but i use "Easy Lift" bags which are more thin plastic...more like a strong plastic bag which has plenty of holes for drainage and holes on the side......I find they are excellent and i have bought fruit trees in them....usually they come in 15 or 25 litre grow bags...have bought citrus trees/avocado and mangos in these bags and one thing i learnt early on...its a waste of time watering them hard out and then trying to remove them from these grow bags.....I just use scissors and cut down the sides of the bag to the base and then just peel it like a banana.....this preserves the root ball but the roots at the base do tend to stick to it but every time i plant up....i got to a solid pot similar to yours but with handles on....30/50/70 litres.......the bag gets sacrificed every time.....I could see how the roots would grow into those fabric grow bags for sure.
I'm not familiar with the "easy lift" bags you're talking about. However, if they're plastic, that should eliminate the "weaving" problem. It's the fabric material that's the problem in this case. I have to ask, if you must destroy the bag when removing it, why not just buy a nursery container from the get-go? I'm sure the bags are cheaper initially, but it can add it quickly if you're cutting them to pieces.
@@TheMillennialGardener Its more of a case that a lot of growers ...provide them in those bags when you buy the tree.....I have a mango in a 25 litre bag at the moment......i have managed to remove one once before but it took a lot of time and i had to be careful...I agree its much easier to slide out of a pot......but when selling trees they are used a lot over here.
I am planting grape and blackberry vines do you recommend grow bags?
I live in Buckeye Arizona and the black color on the plastic pots get too hot during the summer. Have you found a grey color?
Oh god that sounded like such a nightmare. The palm tree sewed itself in!!! That's why I side-eyed the fabric pots while researching the past month or two. THank you for this video
You're welcome. It was pretty bad. Never again; not worth the risk to me! Two beautiful Phoenix Theophrasti palms I grew from seed down the tubes. Thank you for watching.
Hi friend 👋 thank you for the upload ☺💚Love the puzzle bowl great idea 💡!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching the video.
Did the entanglement only occure in the bottom area or all around?
I think overall it should be absolutely possible to grow perennials in bags but maybe the current market isn't suited for that and for someone like you that already has a great inventory it doesn't seem necessary.
As the overall concept is air pruning of the roots I would assume that having a more breathable material and assuring airflow from the bottom could solve the problem. The great potential that grow bags have in my eyes is the possibility of working with compostable materials and beeing able to transplant without having to remove the bag.
Hello,
Here is Southern California, we bought 25 gallons pot each for $10, and 15 gallons pot each for $3 at nursery
Were they injection molded? The thing I like about these pots are they're injection molded and visually perfect. Most nurseries stock the cheap blow-molded, thin pots that don't last long. These pots will last 5-10 years or more. If you can get these for $3 each, you hit the jackpot!
Can I ask what you're take is on superoots air pot for tree's?
I've never used them, so it wouldn't be fair for me to critique them. I can tell you that my summers are very hot and the sun is intense, so for me, I think they'll evaporate way too quickly, so they're not attractive to me. I'm very happy with my #15 containers.
How about those spikey "Air Pruning Planters". Have you had a chance to try them? (writing from south Florida, USA)
Do you have any tips on growing watermelons in grow bags on weed barrier, out in the open? I'm about to start mine again. My patch of 7 plants (in ground) last year went out of control all over the yard despite me trying to keep it contained, and because of all the huge amounts of rain last summer, a lot of them got too waterlogged so they burst. How can I prevent that from happening again?
I have an exact video on this: ruclips.net/video/1Ad8TJ-MsqE/видео.html
It's on growing watermelon in a fabric grow bag on weed barrier. I had no issue with the heat of the barrier, and it's extremely hot here. What I found was the hot micro-climate actually kept the pests OFF all my melons. I had no issues with any pests. No beetles, no ants, no nothing. When I grew watermelon out in the lawn, they were covered in beetles, so I think the weed barrier actually keeps them away. The key is to direct the vines early in their lifespan. Point them in the direction in where you want to go. Once a vine forms 1-2 melons, you can also cut the vine to keep them from growing too large. I didn't have to do that because I find grow bags dwarf them some.
@@TheMillennialGardener You're so helpful, thank you again!
@@ducksndogshomesteaddoggroo2706 you’re welcome. Glad to help.
My family bought some Aspens that came in grow bags. They are in the ground in the bag. can that cause any problems to the trees?
I grow. My fruit trees in grow bags. I use the root pouch, I can’t repot bc is spring. I have used other grow bags in the past and the roots do grown through the bags. I haven’t seen that happen with root pouch grow bags. I will cross fingers and hope for the best until I up pot my lemon tree in the fall. Thanks
I want to plant persimmon trees in big grow bags IN ground. So when I move, I can transplant it. They don’t like their taproot amputated. Also want to plant my American rootstocks in these bags, IN ground. That way I won’t have to water as much in the summer. Bad idea?
I was watching your tomato video today and you raved on your banana trees in fabric grow bags... why the change now?
Bananas grow from a rhizome. They are not made of wood and do not have hard roots or tiny feeder roots. However, I would not grow a banana in a bag again because, once again, it had to be cut off to be removed. That banana was removed 3 years ago and I wouldn’t grow another like it again.
I like plastic grow bags. They're cheap, durable, often ship free, and store flat.
Of course, the lack of rigid bottoms means they should be placed on a pallet or on ground with good drainage. They make me happy in my dry-summer climate. (alternatively or in addition, punch more holes on the very bottom of the sides)
For trees, perennials, or faux-raised beds it's easy to reinforce the sides with a roll of fencing / chicken wire... this makes moving them, emptying them, or applying support stakes much more managable. And it's not very hard to beautify, either, by smacking decorative fencing or burlap on top of that.
I also actually *like* the lack of handles on plastic grow bags - where I live, someone could easily walk off with my plants.
Do you have any videos/pictures of the roots woven into grow bags? Does this issue happen with large houseplants as well for example a monstera deliciosa.
Why not put a garbage bag inside first. Cut some drainage holes in the bottom. Should be easy to pull a tree out every 3 years. What say you?
While the video was very good, Dale stole the video. My wife and I were laughing so hard watching his later focus in addition to your commentary. Down the road, we will demand you consider a Dale compilation. Thanks
Dale is the best person I've ever met. Sorry, humans. He takes the cake (figuratively and literally)! I wish I had the time to make him his own channel. He is the quirkiest, most nuanced creature I've ever met. I've never met a person with more personality than him. I swear, he is a reincarnated person or something. I'm glad you enjoy him!
Thank you very much for providing that “public service announcement”. I will be ordering a palm tree next week so the provision of the info regarding the fabric grow bags was timely for me.
Excellent! Happy to help. Which palm variety?
@@TheMillennialGardener Pygmy date palm
the area I want to plant a couple fig trees, kiwi's and berries is pretty wet. I thought of using a grow bag instead of building a raised bed to help lift the roots slightly out of the wet ground would this be ok if I never plan to move the berries just want to raise the roots out of lots of water. I thought of cutting the bottom of the bag clear out to allow roots to grow down over time.
I can't find your Amazon store to order the nursery pots..
It's in the video description. If you're on a desktop/laptop, click SHOW MORE under the video, or click the little down arrow on your phone to the right of the title under the video. It's the first link in the description.
Why not use a 45lb- 100lb grow bag per plant ?
The problem is the grow bag itself. Going bigger won’t help. It is the material that doesn’t work for perennials. Fruit trees need a hard container. Fabric pots shouldn’t be used. It is only a matter of time until they cause problems.
it sounds like this do wonderful in the grow bags until the issue appears a few years down the road, seems like its still worth wild to use the grow bags to create a nice root ball before transplanting them later on
Hi I never done a garden and I want to start a tomatoes on my back porch. What do you recommend? I don't have any where else to plant it. I want a tomatoes, watermelon, cucumbers, basil, parsley and onions all on my back porch. is this to much to start with?
For tomatoes, I actually recommend the fabric grow bags if you can't plant them in-ground. I recommend #20 fabric grow bags for indeterminate tomatoes, and #7 fabric grow bags for dwarf and determinate tomatoes. Because the tomatoes have to be ripped out come fall, the fabric grow bags work very well. For watermelons and cucumbers, #20 grow bags are ideal. For basil and parsley, the #3 grow bags are good. Onions are a little tricky because they grow best in rows, so you'll want something long and at least 12 inches deep to grow them (but deeper is better). If you can't find something, #20 or larger grow bags can work.
@@TheMillennialGardener THANK YOU SO MUCH WILL PURCHASE THIS WEEK.
NEVER DONE A GARDEN PRAY I DON'T KILL THEM. LOL
Here in Phoenix we have citrus nurseries that only grow in fabric bags. And they have large trees. Takes equipment to move them
That is bizarre, especially given how quickly they dry out. They must have a root rot problem. Are they their mother trees? I can't imagine them selling plants in bags. That's a nightmare for the customers.
I bought 2 apple trees in grow bags and transplanting them was easier than my potted trees.
I didn’t have the same experience. My apples trees were 6 and 7 ft tall.
What about for blueberry bushes?
In my experience, there’s nothing better than fabric pots to grow fruit trees in, especially if your intent is to have it going into the ground, so I guess it depends on your intentionality; my fabric pot trees outgrew every one of my conventional nursery pots; if I’m putting a tree into the ground, I will start it in a 45 gallon grow back every time
Thanks for the enlightenment, not that it makes me happy as l have got a plum tree in a grow bag & intended still to get an avocado tree and a peach tree still to also grow in a growbag. But will now have to look at another solution.
When it comes time to remove the bag from the plum tree, make sure you do so in dormancy in case the roots take damage in the transplant. I've found these pots to be the most successful for me, personally: ruclips.net/video/LuBHbBmh3hU/видео.html
I ordered the 5 gallon containers from that seller. When I got the containers they had a VERY strong chemical smell. Did your containers smell bad? Also that puzzle bowl is great.
No, there was no smell at all. Not even the faintest hint of an odor. Sometimes, those lawn and garden items ship in giant containers or trucks with fertilizers and other chemicals. I would hose them off really well. Any time I buy containers I rinse them off just in case there is some contact residue. See if they smell after hosing them off with a strong jet of water. Get all over - inside, bottom, sides, etc.
@@TheMillennialGardener I will try to clean them but if they still smell like chemicals I am worried about growing stuff in them. They are Number 2 which is safe, but I never smelled anything like this.
I put finger lime into a growing bag about 6 months ago, thanks for the heads up. I will be transplanting it to a different container later.
That's a good idea. You can cut off the problem before it starts!
I just ordered grow bags for some maples. Ugh. Back to pots! Makes sense, orchids do the same. And what about clay pots??
I don't use clay pots because they're heavy, they're expensive, they can be fragile, and they wick water away from the root ball, which encourages the root ball to dry out faster. It's very hot where I live, so keeping potted plants adequately watered is a challenge.
Great tips, have you tried an air pot yet?
No. It gets very hot where I live, and containers dry out quickly. Those types of containers are very prone to drying out, and they're not something that I believe are suitable to most environments for that reason.
Is it possible this happened because the bottom of your grow bag was in direct contact with wet grass/soil, preventing the natural air pruning from happening that would otherwise occur if the bag was getting air on the bottom?
Can you tell us the soil mix you use for citrus plants
I think I just bought a couple bags of the orange-bagged MiracleGro potting mix for citrus, cactus and succulents. You want a fast-draining mix for citrus.
How on earth do you change the soil for your potted tree? I didnt know that, oh God, that's gonna be difficult.
It's not too hard. I have a video on it here: ruclips.net/video/-oOwNiZzGmM/видео.html
It's best to do when trees are dormant if they have a dormancy period.
Wow! Thanks for the warning. I'm just getting into grow bags and I wouldn't want to lose any tree or bushes I lovingly tended for a period of time. Glad to see Dale doing so well. He's got a great dad.🙂
Happy to help! Dad doesn't deserve Dale. Dale's too good for him! I feel like ol' Jed when he found an oil well in his backyard 😀
just bought heaps of these bag yesterday for my fruit tree.. and this come out 😭
@@iska1978 sorry, but it is better to warn you now than lose the trees years from now. These bags are outstanding for annual vegetables, so they can be used for growing any kind of warm season crop.
Lol your meant to just drop the fabric pot into a bigger fabric pot they decompose as soon as they are in soil
I planted a bunch of veggies in grow bags this year, but the same veggies in the ground are doing MUCH better. Not so sure I'm convinced that these are the best option IF you can put plants in the earth.
In almost all cases, planting things in-ground are going to perform better. After all, that's where plants belong. Plants don't grow in containers, naturally. There are instances where container-grown things will do better, like if you have root knot nematodes in your soil (commonly problematic in Florida), you live in very alkaline, hard clay full of salts (common in the desert Southwest), you have very poor quality soil, etc. Other considerations are climate-related. If you want to grow a mango tree, avocado tree and fig tree and you live in Zone 5b, you'll have to grow them in containers.
But, the general rule of thumb is, if you have the space, you have the climate and you have decent soil, plant it in-ground. I grow figs in containers for space reasons (because I can't fit everything I want in-ground), and because I like to trial them first before I dedicate precious in-ground space. I grow citrus and coffee in containers because my climate is too cold for them to survive in-ground. Everything else goes in the earth.
You had the fabric pots sitting on the ground I assume. The fabric pot air prunes the roots and they die when exposed to the air. You either had the fabric saturated all the time or like I said they were sitting on the ground allowing the bottom to stay moist.
As trees age, the roots become larger and more lignified. It doesn’t matter where you place the bags. The roots will eventually harden and grow through the bags. These bags are not designed for trees. They are designed for annual vegetables.
@@TheMillennialGardener You are probably right. I change my soil anually and root prune so I haven't really ran into this problem. I also haven't grown very large trees for say ten years in the same size pot. I use them for citrus trees, jaboticaba, starfruit ect. When I take the bag off to change soil the roots are not even bound to the bag.
Great advise, I want to grow fruit trees in containers to but the fact, that the roots can tear is a real bummer. What about airports, sure they are expensive, but I have seen really big trees in a 10l container (sorry I'm from Germany). I have very limited space and want to make the most out of it. Thanks again for the video, came at the right time :)
I do not have any experience with those air-pruning pots, so I cannot say if they are good or bad. I have concerns with them because eventually the potting mix will need to be replaced (every 3 years or so). I think some of the designs allow them to unscrew and break down into a piece of screen, basically. That feature is imperative because I would not want to have to pull a tree out of them.
I am growing trees in grow bags with thick layer of plastic underneath to hopefully avoid the roots from growing through the bag, if i need to i will sacrifice the bag rather than cut the roots, cut as much of that off as i can and leave the rest in the new bag
I cut the bag off, but the damage was too catastrophic even with that method. For this reason, I recommend just going with a hard container from the start when it comes to trees. If you're using these bags for trees, you may want to consider moving them before they fill out the bag. Once they begin weaving in, it's a big problem.
@@TheMillennialGardener i donation have any other options i plan to grow them there until they die i will be moving them into bigger ones in a few months when winter really hits so i will see if the plastic underneath has helped, if they die so be it i will take some air layers before then of the ones i really like otherwise they will be going in thier final large comtainer or if it is a noticable problem i will get some big pots. The banana is in its final 30 gallon bag already but i am planning to plant a pup in the ground when i get some, the owner doesn't want any trees planted so i will just sacrifice one of my veggie patches and say it's not a tree its a herb and see if that works, ha. Cheers for sharing your experience but, definitely appreciate it but I've looked around and this seems like the best option for me at the moment, money wise especially, i was also thinking of elevating them off the ground a little and keep the plastic there but just in case it does get through it should be able to air prune, maybe still just playing here more than anything, but i do have plans to move some soon so i will definitely keep an eye on it, also i have alot on concrete so I'm not too worried about them
Can you do a video on the whole fig lineup for this year? 🤓👌🏻
When things leaf out, yes. It probably won’t be another 4-6 weeks until some of my new cuttings can be transplanted. It has been a slow year due to the cold, wet winter. Probably sometime in May.
The bit at the end with your dog is very funny I had no idea that you could buy such a thing called a puzzle bowl what a good idea that is !
Puzzle bowls are FANTASTIC if you have a gorging eater. They can be, literally, life-saving for deep-chested dogs like Dale. They tend to speed-eat and they can actually die from bloat if they overeat too quickly. It can be a serious problem. He used to finish his meal in less than 60 seconds. Now, it takes 2-3 minutes. He's still eating quickly, but it's not dangerous anymore. Thank you for watching!
Do you find the black color of the pots heat up the roots in summer too much?
No. I am using these for figs and figs tend to love heat. In fact, that's why I put all the black weed barrier down - to make the area even hotter for the figs. I'm looking forward to increasing the heat of the figs with these black containers even more. If you live somewhere like Phoenix and Las Vegas where it is 115 in the summer, it may be too much, but here on the NC coast where it's 92-94 degrees every day and humid, it's been very beneficial.
Have you ever looked into Rootmaker pots developed by Dr.Carl Whitcomb?
No. I do not want to use any air pruning pots, if that’s what they are. Pots here dry out very quickly in our sun, and those types of pots will not work well.
@@TheMillennialGardener Yes they are air pruning pots. But they do have 3 or 4 different kinds including a white grow bag type pot that is supposed to not dry out quickly. Have you read Dr.Whitcomb's research on tree root development?
I have not. The black pots are a secret to my fig success, though. They get much warmer. A white pot would be detrimental to fig growth. They love warmth.
Why did you have to cut the root mass out of the fabric? Couldnt you have just set the entire bag inside the new pot? Maybe trim off the top layer so its not sticking out of the dirt and just bury it
If the fabric pot isnt sitting on dirt, the roots wont dig into the ground, so that ones not really a threat for certain situations
How does root pruning happen in the wild? Is it strictly necessary, or does it only need to be done in gardening conditions?
NC local myself. 😊 We live just on the other side of Asheville Thanks for the advice, been looking into grow bags for my regular indoor veggie garden stuff since things I like to grow/ eat year round tend to freeze in January, but I planned on starting some honeycrisp apple trees this year & I'm glad I saw this beforehand.
Also, Dale doggo is very cute.
I have a Pyrenees that eats a raw diet, and we feed her with a puzzle bowl too.
Hello all! I have 12 baby bare root trees approx 12" each from the Arbor Day Foundation. 5 Flowering White Dogwood, 5 Eastern Redbud and 2 Crepe Myrtle Shrubs. I want to start them (for about a year or so) in fabric grow pots. What size is best to start with for these? 2 gallon? 3 gallon? 3gallon is taller so seems good for trees, but I think the root system on the redbud grows a deep root system and the dogwood is more shallow and the crepe myrtle has a fibrous root system...what to do?