In the Nursery » Container Production

Landscape Tree Container Production

The development of the structural root system on container-grown trees has not yet been extensively studied. Container tree production is most popular in the warmer climates of the south and west. Many of the species grown are different than in field production in colder climates. Rooted cuttings are more popular than seedling root stocks.

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Initial observations indicate that there may be less of a tendency for adventitious root flares to form. In container production, growth of primary roots is usually stopped by air pruning or wet soils in the bottom of the container, rather than by mechanical pruning. When the tip is killed, little regeneration will occur because of these same unfavorable conditions. This may encourage growth of lateral roots sooner. The photos show washed root systems of Quercus acutissima (sawtooth oak) (left) and Eucalyptus gunnii (cider gum) (right) from a 1 L (0.3 gal) Air-Pot container. There are no strong adventitious roots from the air-pruned end of the taproot. Natural lateral roots are present, though the strongest ones occur at different depths on the two species (Photos by Jamie Single)


Young lateral roots of container plants are not exposed to the elements each time the plant is repotted to a larger container, since there is little disruption to the roots in the root ball. Damage to the small laterals that could later develop into structural roots may be avoided. This may lead to a less pronounced adventitious root flare and more lateral roots closer to the soil surface.		View larger