Somewhat Stupid Question

speaking of stupid questions-- I was told to gently spread the rootball for nursery plants, before planting.
I have done it but wondered if it was really OK
Any of you top gardeners Know?
Jo Ann

Yes, it's fine to do that.

Yes - I always do. No need to cut them like they used to recommend. Just need to 'inspire' them to start growing outward, instead of around the pot.

I always wondered about that cutting method and I never did it. It just seemed like too much damage to me...plus wouldn't the cut off roots just sit there and rot? If I have something that is really, really rootbound when bringing it home I water it lightly the night before planting then just "massage" the roots until they finally begin to loosen up. Yes, massage therapy for your plants...try it, it's even better than talk therapy!!

I do it too if they are root bound. This time of year you usually don't need any roughing up but later in the season I even cut off an inch or so from the bottom of a plant and give it a good roughing up on the sides as well as pulling apart the center sometimes.

That sounds realistic. I have bought "sale" plants in July and wondered why they took forever to get going.
Massage the roots, yep thats what I'll do.

By July many nurseries aren't keeping up with the watering and the plants are so rootbound that soaking them and teasing apart the roots helps a lot in getting the plants well established.

Thats why I am ordering plants now for this new garden .
Now that I know about the soaking,I'll look for bargins with peace of mind.

A good drink of root stimulant is most beneficial for all new plantings. Just read and follow the directions. Too much is not a benefit and can kill plants.

Yeah, I'm a sucker for those clearance plants too. I just can't resist because I know they will come back with a little TLC. Usually they really get going right about the time the autumn frosts are ready to hit...but somehow it's still worth it. Maybe it's that nurturing "mothering" side of me...or maybe I just want to prove I can do it. I don't know, but I know I'll keep doing it! Besides, cheaper plants means you can buy more other stuff like really pretty containers!

Yeahh containers, mine aren't much to look at, besides the plants are what counts.

The containers are what you really need to find on clearance. Of all places, Jo-Ann's Fabric has some nice and different containers that go on huge % off clearance in late summer. I've gotten some nice stuff there...including a terra cotta turtle that broke this winter. I had a little Hosta in him and for some stupid reason I left him out. You'd think I'd know better by now. His little feet and head cracked and fell off. I'm going to see if I can at least salvage them and put them sticking up out of the mulch...kinda like the alligators and things you see. But, I'm concerned it'll look really silly, lol. If nothing else he can be recycled as shards to cover the drainage hole in other pots. I'm hoping I find another turtle like him sometime, he was a real cutie.

Thanks for the tip. I have also found fiberglass "looks like clay" at Linnens and Things and Target. End of summer ,right, have to start to haunt them in August.

heathrjoy - you can use what's left of the turtle to provide shade for the roots of any clematis and it looks nice, too.

Good tip, pirl

This broken pot was used to protect the tarragon but it would have worked equally as well with clematis.

That's a really good recycling idea Pirl. I don't know if it'll work with the turtle or not, but I can use it for other broken pots. I'll see if I can snap a pic of the turtle today.