Potting On Sept 27 2021

Potting On Sept 27 2021

100 cell grown Douglas fir and 100 Sessile Oak were delivered on Wednesday. They have now all been potted on. Though not quite to the original plan. 

Douglas Fir in 500ml Cells

The advantage of Cell grown trees is the that they can be planted at any time of year, weather being the only restriction. Their disadvantage is that they tend to have an underdeveloped root system compared to the size of the shoot. They are likely to fall over and are subject to increased drought stress. To counter act this I like to pot them on as soon as the nursery is prepared to release them. These trees arrived on Wednesday 22nd. They were probably lifted on Monday. To get them all potted on within the week is O.K. The weather is still warm enough for them to make root growth, and they have not had time to put out new roots which will get damaged during the repotting.

Sessile Oak going into pint pots.

It had been hoped that some containers with trees, that were supposed to be planted in the spring  would be available. They were not planted because of the dry weather. Petrol shortage meant that Muslin "pots" were hastily assembled, to make up for the short fall. Going shopping was considered a risk with a nearly empty tank!

Home made muslin Pots.

The Oak on the left can be seen to be making new roots. These are what I am trying to help establish. They do suggest the trees were only just potted on at the optimum time.