The nursery uses a variety of modern root pruning containers to avoid problems such as root spiralling associated with traditional pot grown specimens.

These containers are especially used for fast growing species such as Eucalyptus, or those with a strong tendency to growth of a tap root.

All plants start life in the nursery in root trainers (image 1). These are specially designed to air prune roots at the base of the container, which causes lateral roots to form higher up the root system, which are then guided vertically downward by grooves in the side of the root trainer.

These ensure all young plants are established with a strong fibrous root system.

Another development in air pruning technique is the Air-Pot® (image 2) in which engineered plastic grooves and holes ensure the air pruning of both the radical and lateral roots to create a dense fibrous root system.  

Image 3 shows the roots of young Prunus spp. can be seen which have developed over two growing seasons to produce a dense fibrous mass of roots which will help  ensure rapid establishment at the planting site and avoid the problems of root spiralling associated with conventional containers.

Additionally the Nursery also uses Super root fielders, which are specially engineered fabric bags which preclude the need to undercut trees and control root growth in such a way that  they not only reduce transplant shock, but also provide the plants with stored energy source so when the tree is removed from the bag at its final planting site the tree rapidly re-establishes its root system.

Above the thin penetrating xylem element of the root system can be seen penetrating the fielder. (Image 4)

Image 5 shows the bag removed we can see the considerable thickening of the roots representing stored starch reserves which boost the re-establishment of the plant in its final planting position.

Further information regarding these products can be found by visiting air-pot.com