Root growth in fabric containers

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Some nurseries produce trees in fabric containers in field soil. The fabric restricts, but does not prevent, roots from growing into the soil outside the fabric container. Root balls of field-grown trees are similar to those grown in fabric containers except that the fabric container root ball is smaller (Gilman et al 1992). Applying irrigation and fertilizer only to the top of the root ball can help increase roots in the ball compared to applying it to a larger area around the container (Beeson and Gilman 1995).

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