I'm sorry either I suck at
'search' on the site or it isn't there... but can we take this a step back... what is a 'spin out bag' exactly?

I remember having to help ppl like me on another forum where I was the expert. Looks different on this side of the fence! :)

Jean

Spin out bags-I believe are designed to keep tree roots from invading the plants root system, (more or less a mesh bag) I dont use them but I probably should! I just move my hosta about every 3 years and cut up all the roots that grow around them, I have time to do this, so this works for me in a small yard. Maples a Too big to move, so I move my Hosta!!

Paul

I received my order of spin out bags to use in the spring for a problem bed that I have to "rework" due to Maples.

Here is the link for the supplier I ordered from.

Also, peggy_hosta posted "my buried pail experiment" that was very positive and would be much less expensive.

I'm going to give her "pail and pot" a try this sping as well.

Deb

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.wrdist.com/root_control_product.html

I wouldn't call myself an "expert". I planted all my hosta around my dreaded maples in spin-out bags last spring. After watching my hostas dwindle to nothing for years, I had to try something! So far this year, everything looks good. Absolutely all of them increased in size. I wanted to make sure that my hosta had plenty of room, so I planted the giant and large in 10 gallon bags. The mediums and smalls I planted in the 5 gallon size and the extra smalls and some coral bells I planted in the one gallon size.

I couldn't tell you if they ever outgrow the bag. Mine haven't been in them long enough to tell. I hope not!

I've only moved one that was in a bag so far because it wasn't happy in the spot it was in. It was way to heavy to lift the bag. So, I ended up digging it out of the bag, moving it and replacing it with a different hosta in the same bag.

Here are a few pointers: Don't forget to turn the bag inside out. You want the black side out. These bags were originally designed for nurseries to plant trees/shrubs in to keep the root ball from being stressed when dug up for potting. The copper sulfate on the black side of the bag repells roots, so you want it on the outside to prevent tree roots from getting inside the bag.

The bags are really way too deep. I placed the bags as deep as I thought necessary for hosta roots, planted the hosta, then cut off all but an inch or so at ground level. You want to make sure to leave at least an inch above ground level so the tree roots don't get in over the top of the bag. I hid the uglyness by mulching around the ring left above ground.

Here's something else that I did wrong and now I'm going to have to try to correct it.......when planting the bag, make sure that the soil is compacted. All of mine sunk, so now the soil level is lower inside the bag than the outside. It doesn't seem to be affecting the growth of the hosta, but I wish I'd thought of that...it looks kind of funny. I'm not really sure how I'm going to correct this without digging them up and doing them over, which I don't want to do. I hate to disturb them now. I'm afraid it's going to set them back and I've waited so long to have mature ones. Anyone have any ideas?

Ahhhhh I get it, I appreciate the link as well nchostaqueen, thanks.

I did read the link on the pail experiment. Since I don't know tons about hostas is there a great conclusion you more experienced folks have drawn from that.

Example, a more 'touchy' hosta did well in....
I didn't note there to be a significant difference in those with holes vs those without. The other variable that isn't taken totally into account is the varience that can occur due to different onsets of winter. For example... alot of rain followed by freezing temps. I would think the results at least in my region would be more conclusive.

Lately it seems like the start of winter is everything from soup to nuts!

what do ya'll think? (no not from the south:))

Thank for your replies.

Keanaz5a: I have saved your pointers. It is great to hear from someone who has been through the process.

Nchostaqueen: Thanks for the link. I like to buy from somewhere where others have had a good experience.

Flora: I have been there also. Like, "What is everyone talking about?" I did not know about the bags either until I read about them here. I have dug a few plants up and cleaned out the roots but am getting up there in age and would rather have a more permanent solution to those terrible roots!

Thanks again, all.

JR

Just a follow up to my original post. A pat on the back to me as today I dug a giant hole and put my Montana Aureo-Marginata in her spin-out bag. Used an axe to hack away roots as thick as my arm and cleaned out thousands of smaller roots. Mixed compost with the dirt and gave her a good drink.

I have a spreadsheet to record hosta eyes each spring. As Montana had 2 fewer eyes than last year she was my experiment.---although it was work it was not as bad as I thought. Hopefully I will see the rewards next spring!

I have decided not to arbitrarily start installing bags but to give them to hosta that have fewer eyes from year to year or do not seem to be doing much. Liberty is next but not today. 59 years old and one per day is enough!!!!!!

Happy Spring to all!

JR

Okay, I know we all hate silver maples (I have 4 in my yard and am trying to figure how to use the space underneath) but won't hacking away at a lot of roots kill or weaken the tree? I know it seems like not such a bad idea at first but having to remove a dead tree is costly and could end up damaging the hosta that are underneath.

I didn't hack away any large roots when I planted mine under the dreaded maples. If I started to dig a hole and ran across a sizeable root, I just filled the hole back in and tried somewhere else. Smaller ones 3/4" or smaller I did cut with a pruner. You're right, I wouldn't want the maples to die (even though I don't like them), that's all I've got for shade and it would be very costly to remove large trees.

Well, they are not my trees. They are my neighbor's! While they are a pain (millions of "helicopters" in the spring and, of course, the root system) I would not want to harm them as we appreciate the shade they provide. And we like our neighbors......

They are mature trees and do not appear to have suffered from some substantial hacking when we built our patio 8 years ago. So hopefully I have not caused any damage?

JR