Many people do. Some use Spin Out bags. It is a never ending battle.

-Babka

Yes it can be done. But the tree roots will find the drainage holes of the buried pot and invade. It is best to rotate the pot a couple of times in the season to break off those tree roots that are entering your pot. Also I would encourage you to use a pot that is not too large as the buried pot will not drain as easily especially if you have clay soil.

Newhostalady is right, to my sad experience. I had two Francee hostas in wooden barrels for years, not knowing what was going on where i couldn't see. I put a new hosta in a new barrel three years ago, and the contrast led me to replace the older barrels. It took me two days, a saw and a hatchet to pry the Francees out of their barrels thanks to maple tree roots. The wooden barrel bottoms had rotted completely away, and it was a mess inside.

For the new barrels, I got enough curved patio pavers to make a stone ring under each one, with a big hole in the middle. Every spring since then, DH and I have tilted the barrels to make sure the space is clear. The empty air is not something the tree roots want to grow in. I don't think we need to check next spring. It's working! And the hostas didn't bat an eye at being cut out of the roots/barrels. I'll get photos next spring.

agree with all that ...

but add ... plant it in two pots .... so you can slip the one with the plant out... a couple times per year ....

an old friend tried this under norway maples ... he lost.. if grass wont grow under the tree ... you just arent going to dream up any viable option to beat that tree ...

ken

Philip, you might want to read my post in which I removed a buried hosta pot that had not received regular pot turning.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3918002/im-a-bad-hosta-momma-fragrant-blue?n=20

Lynn, I am glad that you figured out what was going on and were able to replace the old barrels. I like the idea of using curved patio pavers under the barrels.