Thanks Steve. I will look into those planters, but I do not think that is a viable alternative for me. The main reason I want to use 5-1-1 is because of the weight. I have to move my trees either myself or with the help of my son (for the heavier ones) and some we have to even drag upstairs to the second floor to go in his room. I need to keep the pot size somewhat under control and the weight. As it is, I can barely move the container right now.

Before you transplant anything you got to get everything ready. Perlite is cheap, you can buy a big,big bag for about $21.00. You can use a lot with your mix to lighting-up your mix. I can transplant a big container in about 10 minutes and the tree would not know it. You can mix-in some lime now,a cup. Because i bought a lot Espoma citrus/avocado fert i like to add that to, nothing else. The pinechips are small with Ecoscraps garden soil, i see no difference between this and the fancy stuff.

Those planters are beautiful but incredibly expensive.

I thought gritty and 511 were the same thing?.....

Laura, you are right. much of the mix would just fall away from the roots and all you would have to do is sink the roots in a bucket of water and gently move it around. Your trees will be just fine....Good work

Thanks guys. I will try it once I get my reptibark order. Bob, yes, I will have everything ready to go. Tlbean, no they are not the same although they behave similarly in that they both drain very well. The 5-1-1 is much lighter (in weight) so I prefer it for my trees bc I have to move them in and out and sometimes up stairs ;-)

Laura, I agree with Mike. The gritty should fall off the roots. I would dip it in water only if a significant amount stays on the roots. Otherwise, I would go straight to 5-1-1.

Has it occurred to you, as it has to me, that in a couple of years we will be re-potting all of the trees we just potted in 5-1-1. Ugh!!!

Not me Mine are in ground to stay.

6b Steve

Good for you Steve! Yes, it has Vladimir...yikes! I plan to stagger them so that I do a third or thereabouts every year. Hey, it will keep us young and fit ;-)