Nursery Production Alternatives for Reduction or Elimination of Circling Tree Roots

Tree roots that circle during nursery production have the potential, once planted in the landscape, to enlarge and become girdling roots that may stress or kill trees. Several nursery production alternatives have been developed to address this problem including in-ground fabric, rigid plastic, and "potin- pot" containers, and above-ground modified rigid plastic, "low-profile", "soil sock" and copper-treated containers. Coating the interior wall of rigid containers (above and in-ground) with the root-regulating copper compound appears to be the most effective and economically justifiable alternative.