Container plants, root crops or ball plants

If you are creating a new garden, want to plant trees, for example fruit trees, raise a hedge as a privacy screen or just If you want to create a new border for a flower bed, the question arises as to which commercially available plants are suitable for this purpose. In the nurseries, the well-stocked garden trade and also many DIY stores, container plants, rooted goods or ball plants are offered. But which ones are ideally suited for your own projects, what are the advantages and disadvantages of the different goods.

container plants

The container plants include all the plants that are offered by the trade in a pot made of plastic or pressed peat. These have different sizes according to the size of the plant contained. The name container is a bit misleading here, as it can also be very small pots. Because all plants are offered in the container, from small ground covers to medium-sized shrubs and small trees. The plants that are sold in the containers have already been grown here, from small seedling up to the plant offered in the trade, this has its whole life in the pot spent. The main advantage of this is that the plants have not been removed from the pot and the roots have not been damaged so far. But there are more advantages to choosing a container plant:

• the goods are commercially available all year round
• so planting can be done all year round
• it does not need to be cut back as the roots are still fully formed and have not been removed
• immediately in the first year of planting, the plant focuses on its growth
• almost all garden plants are available as container plants
• this includes bedding plants
• ground cover
• small ornamental trees such as rhododendron or hibiscus
• large coniferous and deciduous trees
• All kinds of fruit trees
• with proper planting, any container plant will grow without difficulty
• however, the plastic pots must be removed when planting
• Peat pots are placed in the planting hole and decompose by themselves
• However, the trade does not use peat pots for the large trees, these are usually supplied in plastic containers
• The price is not so cheap here, because the plants from the container are often more expensive than others

rootware

The gardener understands rooted plants to be plants that are offered to the final buyer in the trade without soil and with bare roots. Therefore, these plants are often referred to as bare-rooted. The biggest advantage of these plants is above all the low price, but it is not always possible to cultivate these trees or shrubs in your own garden due to their history. Because with the root product it can happen when planting that they do not grow properly and will die after a short time as some of the roots were damaged during the excavation prior to sale became. Because they have already come a long way before they are offered on the market. This is how the trees and shrubs are raised outdoors and when they have reached a certain size, they are removed from their original location with a spade and the earth around the roots removed. This usually happens either in spring or in autumn. Then hurry is required, because the plants have to be put back into the ground as quickly as possible. The following should definitely be considered when purchasing rootware:

• immediately after purchase at the desired location
• if this is not possible, drive it into the ground immediately after purchase
• after planting, the wood must be cut back
• because bare-rooted plants inevitably had their roots removed when they were dug up
• Therefore, after planting, the plant must first be able to concentrate on new root formation
• bare root plants are mostly deciduous or coniferous trees
• however, the deciduous shrubs and trees can only be dug up without foliage
• For this reason, the delivery time is also limited to autumn after the leaves have fallen and spring before the new shoots
• only use this product in spring and autumn
• at other times the plants have been removed from the soil for too long and then no longer grow at all
• therefore always keep your hands off the root products offered in summer or winter

ball plants

As the name suggests, the root ball plants are supplied with a root ball that still has soil attached. These trees and hedge plants are also grown outdoors, like the bare-root plants. The difference, however, is that when digging in autumn or spring, the soil is left at the roots. So that this is not lost on the way to the trade, the roots are wrapped with linen and possibly also with a wire mesh. The advantage here is that the balled plants are only commercially available in autumn and spring, but then for several weeks. Other facts are as follows:

• Ball plants do not have to be used immediately after purchase
• they are cheaper than container plants but more expensive than root crops
• Linen and wire mesh only have to be cut open when planting, but not removed
• the linen rots in the earth over time
• Trees and shrubs should be cut back slightly when planted
• Even with these, roots could be damaged, which the tree or shrub has to regenerate
• most plants grow, a failure rate is rather low here
• Ball plants are well suited for all purposes in the garden
• for the new planting of a hedge as well as for repairs
• as well as for the planting of solitary trees as a focal point in the garden
• Fruit trees are also often commercially available as ball plants

Conclusion

There are many pros and cons to opting for container plants, root crops, or ball plants. The container plants in particular are available all year round and not much has to be considered when planting. Because the roots were not damaged due to the cultivation in a pot and the small trees or hedges grow so quickly and well. The disadvantage of container plants is the price, as they are more expensive than root crops and ball plants. However, the root product and the balled plants are not available all year round and are only commercially available in autumn or spring. In addition, the admittedly much cheaper bare-root plants must be traded immediately after purchase and these must be planted and cut back. The root ball plants, on the other hand, are a bit more robust as they are supplied with soil, but the delivery times are also limited here. However, due to the soil around their roots, these do not have to be used immediately after purchase and can remain in place for a week or two. Which goods the hobby gardener ultimately chooses here can only be determined by himself using the arguments listed here.

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