Many years ago I used a large terracotta pot as a fish pond and to seal the inside of the pot we painted it with marine quality paint. No leakages and the fish lived in it happily for many years.
Several years ago I started making 'pots' simply by making pot sized raised beds, adding just enough trim to make them Versaillesish looking. I did this to save money and add structure to the garden, the plants seemed to do quite well. Never did it occur to me to make my other pots bottomless, what a game changer. Even my annual pots are bottomless now and it has cut down on their watering dramatically. Thank you for the follow up video, you have answered questions I didn't know I had!
Thank you Bunny for yet another brilliant video full of ideas, Could you give names of smaller trees for small gardens and patios which would be suitable in pots please? Especially ones with all year interest ?
I don't have a good depth of decent soil and, on a hillside, with terrific winds and copious rainfall, gardening isn't really much fun for most of the year. Pots have been the solution - but a pain when they all need re-potting or replacing. This is a life saver for me and my garden - so many thanks for the advice - and great fun!
The most eco-friendly Xmas tree you can have. The other benefit to using those root control bags/pots is that you can place a tree right up against or near a structure without causing damage; particularly important when it comes to boundary walls, neighbor's houses & because growth is restricted, unlikely to overshadow the neighbouring gardens to the point it causes friction - not uncommon & sadly legal disputes etc. Fab feedback on baseless pots - Bunny, to all those friends, family and colleagues who've laughed over the last 25+ years: - "See, told you so! I'm *not* quite mad after all." 😄
Bunny I love that you talk from a designer's point of view as well as from a gardener. It just makes sense to make a statement with big pots. Thank you so much for sharing. I check your channel just for more insight of this subject.
If people don't have a lot of money & want a wooden planter, there is always pallets. Frequently free (saves owner having to store or dispose of) from DIY stores, supermarkets or anywhere that has things delivered to them on pallets. Easily deconstructed ready for reuse. Just requires a bit of imagination with minimal effort - and a few basic tools of course.
Just tried searching for the root control bags, but can't find the item or a supplier.. any ideas or retailers that sell them? I have a particularly wet garden, high water table, and think my only option to grow trees, would be to place the football above the height of the surrounding soil, within a large bag, so that the tree can draw water, but not become waterlogged in winter.
@@rabidavid614 hello. I checked some sources and I believe gardenselect.co.uk does Rootex Root Control bags ranging from 10 litre to 95 litre sizes. I hope this helps
Thank you, this is filling my head with ideas. I live in a small ranch house and it has no architectural features of its own, but perhaps I can create some shape and height around it in the garden.
Never use a liner in a plantingbarrel. The staves are burned with fire to make them longer lasting. The liner will block the moist out, the staves will shrink and the hoop will get loos. I was recommended to plant direkt in the planter. I stocked one with dirt and it shrinks, if it is not waterd.
Thank you for this video! I live in California where I am bombarded with gophers and bunnies! This is a great solution for me! I just LOVE your designs!
I live in northern Indiana where it gets to below zero in the winter. I’ve had good luck with white cedar also known as arborvitae here in the states. I planted a beautiful blue juniper in a pot insulated pot. I’m hoping it survives.
Great topic and info. Really enjoyed both the design and gardening tips. On using the bags, I never thought to use for small trees etc, I have done the same with my tomato plants and they thrive, way better than in pots or the ground. I noticed the same thing with their roots too, I believe its something to do with the air coming in vs a solid pot where plants can become rootbound. I would add IMO that as long as its material and non toxic there's no need to splash out for special bags.
I love the gardens you design however they’re all somewhat out of my budget 😂 Really appreciate the ideas you give in this video of ways to recreate the look at a lower cost.
Bonnie I love your videos I live in Kentucky zone 6B I love your casual down to earth approach to gardening and landscape it makes me feel like I could possibly create something magnificent like you're showing on your videos thank you so much. Susan in Kentucky
I’ve been thinking of this idea for an acer griseum multi stem, you’ve given me the confidence to give it a go (especially with the pruning knowledge you shared). Raising it up slightly I’m hoping it will catch the late evening light on the bark. thanks Bunny!
I purchased several dwarf Alberta Spruce trees with spiral topiary form and asked my husband to help me remove the bottom of their plastic containers and buried them in a small garden bed then added pine bark mulch on top. I wanted to give them some height as they're not that tall. They seem to be doing well. However, I'm starting to worry about how they'll do in the summertime when it gets really hot. Do you think my topiary trees will bake? Should I just plant them into the ground and forget about trying to give them the added height? 💚 Love all your videos and appreciate learning something new each time.
Do you have a video where you give some ideas of what kind of trees or shrubs do well in these bottomless pots. I live in Canada where we get weather below -20 or more so that would cut down the varieties we could use.
What an excellent follow-up video to the first one! I do have a question, which concerns the spray paint you have used on that plastic pot. Would you mind sharing the name of the brand (and the shade) please? There are so many products out there, and I would rather invest in something robust and that will withstand the UK's wet, cold winters as I have quite a lot of fruit trees to put in container pots! Many thanks, and a massive congratulations on the channel! You are truly inspirational.
Love this idea, where do you get the large pots from. I have been in many garden centres but can't find the really large ones. Thank you so much for sharing your great ideas. 🤗
Hi Bunny! I’m sold on the baseless pot idea. We are here in the rural AZ desert where everything needs to be wired for cottontails and jack rabbits. Who wants a garden filled with wire surrounding each plant/tree... not me! I’m researching desert trees that will work in this situation and would love your recommendations for a baseless pot in arid Desert Zone 9a. Subscribed!
What a great idea bunny I wonder if any one had any problems with making their pots weak by removing it's base. The terracotta type pots I've used in the past rarely make it past 6 years due to frost or root expansion. I think fine concrete would be good but probably difficult to remove the base.
I love your ideas I have never hear about the baseless pots. Opens up a whole new point of view. I do have a rectangular shape against the foundation of the house where the soil is really hard (clay). I filled the area with gravel. If I would want to place a pot with a large growing maples such as a blood good. Would I just need to remove the gravel? Would there need to be any other preparations needed to be done expect making sure it’s level
I love your videos. The gardens you design are beyond amazing. I was wondering about lead. Is that not extremely dangerous. I did see a website from England where they made lead planters and fountains. Does this not contaminate the land, wildlife and people touching it? I was just wondering. Thank you.
Great videos you have in your channel ! I loved the tool you were using to cut the bottom of the plastic containers. What's the name of that tool? thank you! Is there any way you can do a video about those little tools that are so handy!!! thank you again
That’s my powered pruning saw , that is one from Bosch but there are quite a few makes that do them and you can get cordless ones. They zip through thick stems up to 50cm dia and more very fast and are less frightening to use than chain saw. Ideal for coppicing and heavy pruning🐇
I have a Roebelenii palm in quite a big pot outside, and recently decided to remove the Base after it was for 3 years in the pot. I live in a winter rainfall area,the abundance of rain during the none growing season always caused me concern that it will die from too much water, that was the main reason for doing it, also, I won't ever have to repot :) Removing the Base of an allready planted up pot was so much harder, hope the little disturbance to the roots, and the shaking of the pot while drilling out the Base did'nt have a negative impact to my palm.
I manage with help, to topple the pot,but not all the way to the ground, the stem was resting on a low chair, now I'm thinking perhaps that wasn't such a good idea, perhaps the trunk got hurt inside. Some roots broke of with the toppling of the pot, the once which was allready growing out of the drainage holes into the soil beneath :( The worker drilled a circle of holes close to each other, and manage to knock the base out,but it was a thick based pot,and it took about an hour from start to finish, and a lot of shaking of my palm took place also during that time. I was just holding my breath, cause this palm is so dear to me. After the circle came out in pieces, we removed the pebbles, which I've put in for drainage. The removing of the pebbles left some space,where there was not soil, so there would have been now a gap between the pot, and the soil, it was impossible to push some new soil into the pot, but I put a heap of compost, with some bone meal, for root growth,underneath the pot on the soil, tried to make a big heap, and we pushed the pot back in it's place.A very heavy pot. In hindsight I think I could have put some compost in a paperbag, and push that into the opening. My concern now is, perhaps there was a slight gap between the pot and the compost on the soil, it was impossible to know whether every space was filled with soil, and what that could cause. My hope was that the whole plant will settle a bit lower until it touched the new compost on top of the soil. I immediately water the plant, and add some liquid organic fertilizer to the water. Now a month after the ordeal, I see my Roebelenii's new fronds show some brown, dry leaves, but not so much the main growthpoint in the middle though, so I assume there was some root damage, and shock done to my palm. My big concern is, perhaps my plant will die from the ordeal - I just hope with all of my heart that what I've done won't kill my plant. Than It would be my own fault. It's Spring time here in my part of the world. So hard not having enough help, and being without a husband, he would have known better - so concerned now. I keep my plant damp, but am cautious for over watering, just hope that the broken roots will grow back again :( Roebelenii palms can be full of nonsense, and a bigger one, are so Expensive! I just have to believe that it will survive :) is there perhaps anybody who has had a similar kind of experience like that, perhaps after repotting, or transplanting?
I used one of those root bags with copper in for a fig .. I dug it up after about 3 years but its roots had made mincemeat out of the bag and I had to wrestle with massive tap roots .. what a fight (was expecting to just lift it up in the bag lol)
btw Ive used MBR sealant on terracotta pots and none had frost damage .. can use on the inside and outside .. they are small pots so it helps with moisture loss too!
I bought a new yew species . It survived weeks of minus 40 C in Canada and is still in the pot. I took plenty of cuttings this year and will plant it very soon . The boxwood doesn't look quite so good, a bit yellow. I think it might be a bit wet. I hope topiary is in my future !
Hi would that be Taxus cuspidata? We planted a lot of that in Hokkaido, Japan, where winter temps can be minus 20-30 degrees c, it grows well in those extreme conditions. Box was ok there too but not quite as thick and healthy looking as in the UK.🐇
Have you ever removed the Base of an allready planted up pot? I found it so difficult, and are afraid that I've damaged my plant now with all of the shaking and a little bit of damage to the roots which were allready growing out of the Base. Now I wonder what will happened if there's a bit of space between the pot, and the new soil, although I've tried to put a heap of compost on top of the soil underneath the pot.
I have a question if you do another follow-up video. What if we want to do this with trees that are already in a pot? I have a maple tree in a very large plastic pot and I'm afraid it's gotten root bound in the pot. it's still healthy up top but it won't stay that way for long if I don't do something. I saw your videos and I'm hoping I can just cut the bottom off of the pot but I wonder how to encourage the already root bound routes to escape the bottom and go down into the soil. Will it happen naturally all on its own? Do I need to cut them or tease them do I need to cut up part of the pot away not just the bottom? So many questions LOL
Would this work for Canadian winters? We live in Ontario Canada and I am wondering if the part of the roots in the pot would be damaged from the cold . Because they do not have the protection like the bottom of the roots from being in the ground? Would love to try bottomless pots just not sure for our winters? Love your videos, thank you 😊
do you have to keep adding soil to the pots, i find that my level always goes down each year, and can you do a tour of the different pots throughout your property would love to see them
If the level drops I do. Peat based composts do breakdown quite fast , but you have to be careful not to go above original soil level immediately around the trunk or it can cause it to rot. I have loads of pots in my garden, will try and do some day, but don’t want to cause pot fatigue syndrome in my audience!
very informative, thank you Bunny. I wish Id known about those bags for supressing roots before I planted my fig tree. Yikes. Im looking to hide a new oil tank in the garden but rather than build a box of something around it, I thought it would look less obvious if I constructed a wave of planting/climbers with rusty metal structures. Who could I approach to make me some sort of panelling in metal. I dont really want to pay for the price of sculptered panels or blacksmith work.
We have found that good old 'rebar' reinforcement mesh set in frames of 2x2 studs (with holes drilled into the studs for the metal rods to slot into) are both affordable, and look great, covered in climbers. These are fairly easy to make. // Ingela
Hi could you do a video on cladding the pots in Code 4 Lead please. It sounds a great idea but I can't find anywhere that tells how to do it. Love your videos and your book, lots of great inspiration. Many thanks Joanna
Hi Bunny, I'm looking to put some hedging in and love the idea of doing this with base less pots. Can you advise what size pot I would need to do this with conifer hedging. Loved the videos. Thanks Caroline.
When we want to put hedging higher up so it more quickly obscures the thing you are trying to hide I tend to use baseless troughs. You could make these in one long length and I would probably make from railway sleepers if I was going rustic, timber (pressure impregnated with preservative or tanalised) and possible painted with a long lasting opaque woodstain such as Jotun's which comes in every colour possible or I might used acid etched galvanised metal. If timber I would line the sides with heavy gauge black polythene (but not base) so it protects the wood. Sometimes if the troughs look unsightly I just plant a mini box hedge or whatever along rthe front to hide them. We have used hedging in baseless troughs to provide instant screens 3m high - can be really effective!
@@bunnyguinness thank you so much for the reply, I don't know why I didn't think of a trough! I already have railway sleepers to create my garden spaces so that may work quite well. 👍👍
Hi Bunny I love your Videos! Can you recommend trees most suited to this method.I am USDA 8 to 9 . Box and Cork oak are beautiful in this video. You have a lovely mti stemmed crab apple in another video can you tell us the name? many Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
I want to put three threes between us and the neighbours, I’m in Toronto Canada and we get quite cold -20, the area is a windy area after a big blue died and I removed it so I have a massive stump that the arborist ground down. Would love your thoughts if I could use your idea of bottomless pots and if I’d need to maybe wrap them in the winter?
Do the bottomless pots need to be frost proof for general strength or for cold? We have very little frost in Southern California and I have some pots from Greece, not as super strong as the Italian ones. Thank you Bunny!
Lead is dreadfully toxic to birds! Surely there's a safer look-a-like you could use? Love the idea of cutting the bottom out of pots though! I did it for a grapevine I planted in my backyard to stop the mowerman from ringbarking it!
Useful and interesting, thank you. I would like to put a baseless pot next to my north facing front door. Does anyone have any suggestions for a (not too tall or wide) shrub, preferably evergreen, that might look good in it please? It would be in front of a red berried Pyracantha that grows on the walls behind it on two sides.
Depends where you live - in the uk I find the best evergreens are bay, yew, cork oak, box , phillyrea, - all can be radically pruned so the roots don’t get too huge. For non evergreens I have used Crataegus, medlars, quince, crab apples often multi stems and again respond well to pruning. Thanks for comment🐇
Hi bunny I live in zone 6B in Kentucky USA and I have noticed that I have black walnut trees three that put off a chemical which I've done some research on called jug lone so I've established a woodland garden that is working but I really struggled with the plants under and around these trees so far so good just using hosta adtilbe, ferns Solomon seal, creeping jenny do you have any other suggestions thanks Susan
I never heard about root control bags for figs! Just planted one last year 🙈 Maybe I can still dig it up ans restrict the roots. Does anyone know where to get something similar to the Rootex root control bags in the EU / Germany? I'm guessing shipment from UK will no longer work 😖 Thanks!
When planting in containers, one is usually advised to make sure the plant will tolerate 2 hardiness zones colder than your climate. Does the same rule apply when the container is bottomless? I, too would love to see a video on wrapping a container with lead sheeting!
No straight answer here sadly. Terracotta protects the roots from cold better than thin plastic so pots vary in amount of insulation from cold. When border line plants are dry they are much hardier than wet plants and established plants (in the ground) are generally hardier than recently planted. So planted and well established in base less pots will probably be hardier, they won’t be waterlogged or really wet so that helps hardiness too. If I’m not sure I tend to wrap too with a couple of layers of fleece. Sorry fir long winded answer!
Thank you for tips and inspiration. I think zinc would be a nice material for cladding a bigger plastic barrel, or pot. * Love the green of your barn doors - could I please ask you for the colour code? Thanks! //Ingela
Well I use Jotun Demidekk opaque wood stain it has a repaint interval of 12 years it is excellent and goes on metal too. The colour is S4010-G90Y. Brewers in UK stock it and they will make it up in any colour. So if you find a colour you like in another brand go to www.e-paint.co.uk and they have a search box that will give you close matches. Or take a sample of dried colour and go to paint store with a machine that can colour match from sample. Hope this long winded reply helps!
@@bunnyguinness Thank you so much for answering, and even providing the colour code! Really appreciate it. Since Jotun is a Norwegian brand (Named after one of their spectacular fiords), it's readily found here in Sweden as well. I really love your garden style, and want to build wooden planters like the ones you've shown us. // Ingela
I found drilling holes around the base was a good alternative to cutting, tapping out the base was easy once enough holes were drilled.
Many years ago I used a large terracotta pot as a fish pond and to seal the inside of the pot we painted it with marine quality paint. No leakages and the fish lived in it happily for many years.
Absolutely, pots elevate the planting and give them prominence.
Several years ago I started making 'pots' simply by making pot sized raised beds, adding just enough trim to make them Versaillesish looking. I did this to save money and add structure to the garden, the plants seemed to do quite well. Never did it occur to me to make my other pots bottomless, what a game changer. Even my annual pots are bottomless now and it has cut down on their watering dramatically. Thank you for the follow up video, you have answered questions I didn't know I had!
Thank you Bunny for yet another brilliant video full of ideas,
Could you give names of smaller trees for small gardens and patios
which would be suitable in pots please?
Especially ones with all year interest ?
What diameter terracotta pots do you recommend?
Terracotta pots just have so much more finesse - it's like a living, natural being :)
I don't have a good depth of decent soil and, on a hillside, with terrific winds and copious rainfall, gardening isn't really much fun for most of the year. Pots have been the solution - but a pain when they all need re-potting or replacing. This is a life saver for me and my garden - so many thanks for the advice - and great fun!
The most eco-friendly Xmas tree you can have. The other benefit to using those root control bags/pots is that you can place a tree right up against or near a structure without causing damage; particularly important when it comes to boundary walls, neighbor's houses & because growth is restricted, unlikely to overshadow the neighbouring gardens to the point it causes friction - not uncommon & sadly legal disputes etc.
Fab feedback on baseless pots - Bunny, to all those friends, family and colleagues who've laughed over the last 25+ years: - "See, told you so! I'm *not* quite mad after all." 😄
Bunny I love that you talk from a designer's point of view as well as from a gardener. It just makes sense to make a statement with big pots. Thank you so much for sharing. I check your channel just for more insight of this subject.
thank you for this part 2 of bottomless pots - I am one of the viewers with questions (but kept them to myself) and you answered them all - cheers
If people don't have a lot of money & want a wooden planter, there is always pallets. Frequently free (saves owner having to store or dispose of) from DIY stores, supermarkets or anywhere that has things delivered to them on pallets. Easily deconstructed ready for reuse. Just requires a bit of imagination with minimal effort - and a few basic tools of course.
Enjoyed this very educational video.
We are loving baseless pots 2.0. You offered up some really good options. Thank you for the inspiration.
I love the look of trees in pots. I don't see that a lot here in the state's. Marveling at the age of your garden helpers. Lol.
Great follow on video. I also learned something new. I had never heard of root control bags. What a great idea!
Just tried searching for the root control bags, but can't find the item or a supplier.. any ideas or retailers that sell them?
I have a particularly wet garden, high water table, and think my only option to grow trees, would be to place the football above the height of the surrounding soil, within a large bag, so that the tree can draw water, but not become waterlogged in winter.
@@rabidavid614 hello. I checked some sources and I believe gardenselect.co.uk does Rootex Root Control bags ranging from 10 litre to 95 litre sizes. I hope this helps
Thank you, this is filling my head with ideas. I live in a small ranch house and it has no architectural features of its own, but perhaps I can create some shape and height around it in the garden.
Love the copper bag tip. So useful to control roots. Thank you!
Love the trees in pots. Thank you for sharing all your years of knowledge.
Never use a liner in a plantingbarrel. The staves are burned with fire to make them longer lasting. The liner will block the moist out, the staves will shrink and the hoop will get loos. I was recommended to plant direkt in the planter. I stocked one with dirt and it shrinks, if it is not waterd.
I would totally agree if using reclaimed beer/whiskey barrels etc as the wood shrinks as they dry out, many thanks for flagging this up
Love the look of large plants in pots! Could you please explain in a video in details how to transform the look of a plastic pot?
We have done this now 'How to Make Your Own Baseless Pots' hope it helps!🐇
Open Bottom pots. What a clever idea. Pots do make a statement and enhance the look of your garden.
Thank you for this video! I live in California where I am bombarded with gophers and bunnies! This is a great solution for me! I just LOVE your designs!
Thank you! This is a terrific follow-up to the first video. Very informative!
hi bunny, i love watching your videos. They are so inspiring. Could you please make a video of how you make the steel with aged copper pattina?
Hello, Bunny .
Love your Chanel , so much good information and new ideas.
I learned a lot, thank you.
🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
I’m impressed!!!!! Thank you thank you!!!! I always had the problem of clogged pots and now thanks to you I have the solution 😊
I live in northern Indiana where it gets to below zero in the winter. I’ve had good luck with white cedar also known as arborvitae here in the states. I planted a beautiful blue juniper in a pot insulated pot. I’m hoping it survives.
Also, two more plus points: a) maintenance is easier as you don't have bend down b) you don't have to dig a hole to plant the tree
I love your videos. It’s so packed full of knowledge and garden design ideas. So inspiring. Thank you. 😊
So happy I found this channel!
You inspire me Bunny. Thank you.
Awesome love your style ❤ Nice ❤
Ah, another great video re pots for shrubbery, trees, or flowers. These are always appreciated and well done. 😀
Great topic and info. Really enjoyed both the design and gardening tips. On using the bags, I never thought to use for small trees etc, I have done the same with my tomato plants and they thrive, way better than in pots or the ground. I noticed the same thing with their roots too, I believe its something to do with the air coming in vs a solid pot where plants can become rootbound. I would add IMO that as long as its material and non toxic there's no need to splash out for special bags.
We use the black plastic cow lick containers. They hold 250lbs of lick so are plenty large. We have scores of them! Haha
They must be vast, what dia. And what depth?🐇
I love the gardens you design however they’re all somewhat out of my budget 😂
Really appreciate the ideas you give in this video of ways to recreate the look at a lower cost.
An affordable idea are redwood fence posts cut to height of choice with redwood or cedar pickets to form a box. It's what I'm planning to do.
Absolutely lovely! Thank you so much for sharing your “Secret Garden” tips, can’t wait to try your way! 👍❤️🌞
Love these ideas. Great for the UK, what about the Canadian weather , specifically Toronto?
So simple , so clever.
thank you so much for the additional information. new ideas of all sorts!
You are amazing! This changed my gardening game!
Bonnie I love your videos I live in Kentucky zone 6B
I love your casual down to earth approach to gardening and landscape it makes me feel like I could possibly create something magnificent like you're showing on your videos thank you so much. Susan in Kentucky
Brilliant.
Absolutely brilliant advice thanks again.
This video follow-up is JUST WHAT I NEEDED.
I’ve been thinking of this idea for an acer griseum multi stem, you’ve given me the confidence to give it a go (especially with the pruning knowledge you shared). Raising it up slightly I’m hoping it will catch the late evening light on the bark. thanks Bunny!
Excellent point and will be more noticeable if raised too🐇
I purchased several dwarf Alberta Spruce trees with spiral topiary form and asked my husband to help me remove the bottom of their plastic containers and buried them in a small garden bed then added pine bark mulch on top. I wanted to give them some height as they're not that tall. They seem to be doing well. However, I'm starting to worry about how they'll do in the summertime when it gets really hot. Do you think my topiary trees will bake? Should I just plant them into the ground and forget about trying to give them the added height? 💚 Love all your videos and appreciate learning something new each time.
Do you have a video where you give some ideas of what kind of trees or shrubs do well in these bottomless pots. I live in Canada where we get weather below -20 or more so that would cut down the varieties we could use.
Thanks! All of this is SO inspiring!!
What an excellent follow-up video to the first one! I do have a question, which concerns the spray paint you have used on that plastic pot. Would you mind sharing the name of the brand (and the shade) please? There are so many products out there, and I would rather invest in something robust and that will withstand the UK's wet, cold winters as I have quite a lot of fruit trees to put in container pots! Many thanks, and a massive congratulations on the channel! You are truly inspirational.
Enjoyed all the informative ideas
Love this idea, where do you get the large pots from. I have been in many garden centres but can't find the really large ones. Thank you so much for sharing your great ideas. 🤗
Hi Bunny! I’m sold on the baseless pot idea. We are here in the rural AZ desert where everything needs to be wired for cottontails and jack rabbits. Who wants a garden filled with wire surrounding each plant/tree... not me! I’m researching desert trees that will work in this situation and would love your recommendations for a baseless pot in arid Desert Zone 9a. Subscribed!
Another really interesting video, great information. Thank you!
Absolutely brilliant! Thank you. Take care. Jacqueline
Great video
What a great idea bunny I wonder if any one had any problems with making their pots weak by removing it's base. The terracotta type pots I've used in the past rarely make it past 6 years due to frost or root expansion. I think fine concrete would be good but probably difficult to remove the base.
Sweeeettt! Will you please do a video doing the landscape weaving?
I love your ideas
I have never hear about the baseless pots. Opens up a whole new point of view.
I do have a rectangular shape against the foundation of the house where the soil is really hard (clay). I filled the area with gravel. If I would want to place a pot with a large growing maples such as a blood good. Would I just need to remove the gravel? Would there need to be any other preparations needed to be done expect making sure it’s level
Bunny is informative and charming.
Subscribed. Lovely to find your channel
I love your videos. The gardens you design are beyond amazing. I was wondering about lead. Is that not extremely dangerous. I did see a website from England where they made lead planters and fountains. Does this not contaminate the land, wildlife and people touching it? I was just wondering. Thank you.
Great videos you have in your channel ! I loved the tool you were using to cut the bottom of the plastic containers. What's the name of that tool? thank you! Is there any way you can do a video about those little tools that are so handy!!! thank you again
That’s my powered pruning saw , that is one from Bosch but there are quite a few makes that do them and you can get cordless ones. They zip through thick stems up to 50cm dia and more very fast and are less frightening to use than chain saw. Ideal for coppicing and heavy pruning🐇
Thank you Bunny, great information. Very helpful
I have a Roebelenii palm in quite a big pot outside, and recently decided to remove the Base after it was for 3 years in the pot. I live in a winter rainfall area,the abundance of rain during the none growing season always caused me concern that it will die from too much water, that was the main reason for doing it, also, I won't ever have to repot :) Removing the Base of an allready planted up pot was so much harder, hope the little disturbance to the roots, and the shaking of the pot while drilling out the Base did'nt have a negative impact to my palm.
I hope it does well, many palms are quite tough so I suspect it will be fine.🐇
I manage with help, to topple the pot,but not all the way to the ground, the stem was resting on a low chair, now I'm thinking perhaps that wasn't such a good idea, perhaps the trunk got hurt inside. Some roots broke of with the toppling of the pot, the once which was allready growing out of the drainage holes into the soil beneath :( The worker drilled a circle of holes close to each other, and manage to knock the base out,but it was a thick based pot,and it took about an hour from start to finish, and a lot of shaking of my palm took place also during that time. I was just holding my breath, cause this palm is so dear to me. After the circle came out in pieces, we removed the pebbles, which I've put in for drainage. The removing of the pebbles left some space,where there was not soil, so there would have been now a gap between the pot, and the soil, it was impossible to push some new soil into the pot, but I put a heap of compost, with some bone meal, for root growth,underneath the pot on the soil, tried to make a big heap, and we pushed the pot back in it's place.A very heavy pot. In hindsight I think I could have put some compost in a paperbag, and push that into the opening. My concern now is, perhaps there was a slight gap between the pot and the compost on the soil, it was impossible to know whether every space was filled with soil, and what that could cause. My hope was that the whole plant will settle a bit lower until it touched the new compost on top of the soil. I immediately water the plant, and add some liquid organic fertilizer to the water. Now a month after the ordeal, I see my Roebelenii's new fronds show some brown, dry leaves, but not so much the main growthpoint in the middle though, so I assume there was some root damage, and shock done to my palm. My big concern is, perhaps my plant will die from the ordeal - I just hope with all of my heart that what I've done won't kill my plant. Than It would be my own fault. It's Spring time here in my part of the world. So hard not having enough help, and being without a husband, he would have known better - so concerned now. I keep my plant damp, but am cautious for over watering, just hope that the broken roots will grow back again :( Roebelenii palms can be full of nonsense, and a bigger one, are so Expensive! I just have to believe that it will survive :) is there perhaps anybody who has had a similar kind of experience like that, perhaps after repotting, or transplanting?
@@hanafri8 hi just read your comment, did your palm survive? I really hope so.
I used one of those root bags with copper in for a fig .. I dug it up after about 3 years but its roots had made mincemeat out of the bag and I had to wrestle with massive tap roots .. what a fight (was expecting to just lift it up in the bag lol)
btw Ive used MBR sealant on terracotta pots and none had frost damage .. can use on the inside and outside .. they are small pots so it helps with moisture loss too!
Can you clad a pot in led and other techniques. I would love to see it. Thank you for your videos
yes I would like to see this also! Thankyou.
Me too!
Do you think lead could leach out into the surrounding soil outside the pot over time?
@@montgomeryburns2820 no I didn't consider that. Thank you for reminding me.
Would love to have a tour of your home or Mary Berrys.
Fantastic... So informative
This was very interesting and informative! Thank you!
I bought a new yew species . It survived weeks of minus 40 C in Canada and is still in the pot.
I took plenty of cuttings this year and will plant it very soon .
The boxwood doesn't look quite so good, a bit yellow. I think it might be a bit wet. I hope topiary is in my future !
Hi would that be Taxus cuspidata? We planted a lot of that in Hokkaido, Japan, where winter temps can be minus 20-30 degrees c, it grows well in those extreme conditions. Box was ok there too but not quite as thick and healthy looking as in the UK.🐇
Have you ever removed the Base of an allready planted up pot? I found it so difficult, and are afraid that I've damaged my plant now with all of the shaking and a little bit of damage to the roots which were allready growing out of the Base. Now I wonder what will happened if there's a bit of space between the pot, and the new soil, although I've tried to put a heap of compost on top of the soil underneath the pot.
Very interesting video, just wondered doesn't the soil bake inside metal pots In the sun? Would you line the pot to stop that from happening?
I have a question if you do another follow-up video. What if we want to do this with trees that are already in a pot? I have a maple tree in a very large plastic pot and I'm afraid it's gotten root bound in the pot. it's still healthy up top but it won't stay that way for long if I don't do something. I saw your videos and I'm hoping I can just cut the bottom off of the pot but I wonder how to encourage the already root bound routes to escape the bottom and go down into the soil. Will it happen naturally all on its own? Do I need to cut them or tease them do I need to cut up part of the pot away not just the bottom? So many questions LOL
Really good tips here, thank you 😊
Would you be able to show us how you make those galvanized rings since you said those are easiest
Would this work for Canadian winters? We live in Ontario Canada and I am wondering if the part of the roots in the pot would be damaged from the cold . Because they do not have the protection like the bottom of the roots from being in the ground? Would love to try bottomless pots just not sure for our winters? Love your videos, thank you 😊
do you have to keep adding soil to the pots, i find that my level always goes down each year, and can you do a tour of the different pots throughout your property would love to see them
If the level drops I do. Peat based composts do breakdown quite fast , but you have to be careful not to go above original soil level immediately around the trunk or it can cause it to rot. I have loads of pots in my garden, will try and do some day, but don’t want to cause pot fatigue syndrome in my audience!
I would never have pot fatigue.Love the videos on bottomless pots.
@@bunnyguinness Pot fatigue? Surely, you jest. ~ Lisa
Okay let's just stick to 'nice video'
very informative, thank you Bunny. I wish Id known about those bags for supressing roots before I planted my fig tree. Yikes. Im looking to hide a new oil tank in the garden but rather than build a box of something around it, I thought it would look less obvious if I constructed a wave of planting/climbers with rusty metal structures. Who could I approach to make me some sort of panelling in metal. I dont really want to pay for the price of sculptered panels or blacksmith work.
We have found that good old 'rebar' reinforcement mesh set in frames of 2x2 studs (with holes drilled into the studs for the metal rods to slot into) are both affordable, and look great, covered in climbers. These are fairly easy to make. // Ingela
Hi could you do a video on cladding the pots in Code 4 Lead please. It sounds a great idea but I can't find anywhere that tells how to do it. Love your videos and your book, lots of great inspiration. Many thanks Joanna
I did do a piece on the tv years ago, will do one in future hopefully.
Hi Bunny, I'm looking to put some hedging in and love the idea of doing this with base less pots. Can you advise what size pot I would need to do this with conifer hedging. Loved the videos. Thanks Caroline.
When we want to put hedging higher up so it more quickly obscures the thing you are trying to hide I tend to use baseless troughs. You could make these in one long length and I would probably make from railway sleepers if I was going rustic, timber (pressure impregnated with preservative or tanalised) and possible painted with a long lasting opaque woodstain such as Jotun's which comes in every colour possible or I might used acid etched galvanised metal. If timber I would line the sides with heavy gauge black polythene (but not base) so it protects the wood. Sometimes if the troughs look unsightly I just plant a mini box hedge or whatever along rthe front to hide them. We have used hedging in baseless troughs to provide instant screens 3m high - can be really effective!
@@bunnyguinness thank you so much for the reply, I don't know why I didn't think of a trough! I already have railway sleepers to create my garden spaces so that may work quite well. 👍👍
Hi Bunny I love your Videos! Can you recommend trees most suited to this method.I am USDA 8 to 9 . Box and Cork oak are beautiful in this video. You have a lovely mti stemmed crab apple in another video can you tell us the name? many Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
I want to put three threes between us and the neighbours, I’m in Toronto Canada and we get quite cold -20, the area is a windy area after a big blue died and I removed it so I have a massive stump that the arborist ground down. Would love your thoughts if I could use your idea of bottomless pots and if I’d need to maybe wrap them in the winter?
Hi Bunny how do you root prune to prevent root circling around the sides of the pots & replenish the soil in your bottomless pots?
I have never have had to do either as the roots seem to head down to the moisture , and get nutrients from the soil outside the pot.
Ok thanks can you suggest a link for the root control bags?
Do the bottomless pots need to be frost proof for general strength or for cold? We have very little frost in Southern California and I have some pots from Greece, not as super strong as the Italian ones. Thank you Bunny!
Lead is dreadfully toxic to birds! Surely there's a safer look-a-like you could use? Love the idea of cutting the bottom out of pots though! I did it for a grapevine I planted in my backyard to stop the mowerman from ringbarking it!
Useful and interesting, thank you. I would like to put a baseless pot next to my north facing front door. Does anyone have any suggestions for a (not too tall or wide) shrub, preferably evergreen, that might look good in it please? It would be in front of a red berried Pyracantha that grows on the walls behind it on two sides.
Box balls would look really good. I'm planning to try that for our garden.
Rosemary that grows in a cone shape would be nice
Standard bay tree
@@paulgabolinscy2502 Thank you, I hadn't thought about using a standard plant :-)
Hello!! Interesting.. Just to ask Plants in Pots!? are they Dwarf? Thankyou.
Lead in the garden looks especially charming when you sprinkle it profusely with little drops of mercury.
Are you joking?🐇
Not funny.
Great video! Could you give us exampled of the trees which are in pots especially for year round interest ? something that won't grow too high. Thanks
Depends where you live - in the uk I find the best evergreens are bay, yew, cork oak, box , phillyrea, - all can be radically pruned so the roots don’t get too huge. For non evergreens I have used Crataegus, medlars, quince, crab apples often multi stems and again respond well to pruning. Thanks for comment🐇
I love this idea, but wondering if I can do this with my ericaceous pots?
If someone had to ask, "Why use pots at all...?", they can't be my friend.
🤣🤣❤
Love it!
Great comment 🤣🙃
Do you mix your own potting soil or do you use the garden soil in the bottomless raised pot?
Hi bunny I live in zone 6B in Kentucky USA and I have noticed that I have black walnut trees three that put off a chemical which I've done some research on called jug lone so I've established a woodland garden that is working but I really struggled with the plants under and around these trees so far so good just using hosta adtilbe, ferns Solomon seal, creeping jenny do you have any other suggestions thanks Susan
Would this type of planting work in zone 4, or would the plant die no matter how far down the tap root went?
Do you have a video of you planting a pot cause I got 2 galvanized trash can to use
I never heard about root control bags for figs! Just planted one last year 🙈 Maybe I can still dig it up ans restrict the roots.
Does anyone know where to get something similar to the Rootex root control bags in the EU / Germany? I'm guessing shipment from UK will no longer work 😖 Thanks!
Would a birch tree work in a large pot and how fast do they grow?
When planting in containers, one is usually advised to make sure the plant will tolerate 2 hardiness zones colder than your climate. Does the same rule apply when the container is bottomless? I, too would love to see a video on wrapping a container with lead sheeting!
No straight answer here sadly. Terracotta protects the roots from cold better than thin plastic so pots vary in amount of insulation from cold. When border line plants are dry they are much hardier than wet plants and established plants (in the ground) are generally hardier than recently planted. So planted and well established in base less pots will probably be hardier, they won’t be waterlogged or really wet so that helps hardiness too. If I’m not sure I tend to wrap too with a couple of layers of fleece. Sorry fir long winded answer!
Bunny Guinness Many thanks. This does help!
Thank you for tips and inspiration.
I think zinc would be a nice material for cladding a bigger plastic barrel, or pot.
* Love the green of your barn doors - could I please ask you for the colour code? Thanks! //Ingela
Well I use Jotun Demidekk opaque wood stain it has a repaint interval of 12 years it is excellent and goes on metal too. The colour is S4010-G90Y. Brewers in UK stock it and they will make it up in any colour. So if you find a colour you like in another brand go to www.e-paint.co.uk and they have a search box that will give you close matches. Or take a sample of dried colour and go to paint store with a machine that can colour match from sample. Hope this long winded reply helps!
@@bunnyguinness Thank you so much for answering, and even providing the colour code! Really appreciate it. Since Jotun is a Norwegian brand (Named after one of their spectacular fiords), it's readily found here in Sweden as well. I really love your garden style, and want to build wooden planters like the ones you've shown us.
// Ingela