Container plants are needed on many degraded and damaged sites. The type of container is a critical choice with the goal of the lowest cost per survivor. Deep containers are needed for many seasonally dry or arid sites.

1. Plant production for
restoration projects:
container options
David A. Bainbridge
Restoration Ecologist

2. Why containers
• Container planting is desirable because direct
seeding may succeed only once every ten
years in the desert (Cox et al., 1982)
• Good seedling survival and growth from
containers can be expected even in areas with
less than 3 inches [75 mm] of rain per year if
plants are well prepared
• And provided with protection from grazing and
minimal water

3. Deep containers
• The choice of container type is guided by
ecological, physical and bureaucratic issues
• Use local site adapted seed
• Deeper (taller) containers have often been
more successful
• The more uncertain the climate and the
bureaucratic environment - the bigger the
containers should be

4. Container goals
• A container that will produce an
acceptable seedling at the highest
practical growing density, in the shortest
time, at the lowest cost
• Easy to handle and plant
• Suited to the project, site environment,
and planting and maintenance program

5. Restoration v/s landscape plants

6. Root development wanted
• Small shoots and
vigorous roots are
wanted
• The root/shoot ratio
should favor roots
• Fertilizer
management and
pruning may be used
to get good root/
shoot ratios

7. Container options

8. Supercells
• The ten cubic inch
plastic cell fits in a rack
• The plastic holders are
relatively fragile
• I like to transfer cells to 5
gallon plastic bucket with
a rack

9. Plant bands
• Plant bands are square
tubes made with folded
and glued plastic or foil
coated cardstock
• Plant Bands with holes
can lead to root tangles
• Plant bands can be
pulled up over the plant
in some cases for
minimal root disturbance

10. Half high
Smoothwall PVC 6” x 16”
If drainpipe or less shiny plastic is used it can be hard to
get the plants out without disturbing roots
• The bottom can be closed with a crossed wire and
wire mesh disk or shadecloth or screen taped onto
the pipe. Root control screen can be used.
• I used Tubex shrub plant protectors as containers
on one project.
• Simply slide it up and out and then secure as an
effective protector against herbivores and sand
blast.

11. Container suppliers
• Listed in book - one
good source is
Stuewe and Sons
• Plant bands can be
custom made at any
size

12. Deepot
» Stuewe and Sons
make very tall
containers
» These are good for
tap root
development
» Can be used for
deep pipe irrigation

13. Tall pots
• The Center for Arid
Lands Restoration at
Joshua Tree National
Monument (now JTN
Park) pioneered the
development of the Tall
Pot made with 32 inch
tall, 6 inch diameter PVC
pipe (Apache 2729)
• It has to be smooth wall
inside!!

14. Jelly Roll
• For some situations and
species the best
container is no container
• Plants are grown in a
loose soil mix, then
rolled bareroot in a roll of
absorbent paper or
Kimtex
• A cooler can hold
hundreds of plants

15. Other challenges
• Timing - what do you
do if contracts are
delayed?
• This field of cholla
was finally plowed
down - it became too
hard to handle after
a long delay

16. Soil Mix
• Many desert species have limited defenses
against root rots, damping off, and other
pathogens
• They may also have high oxygen demand
• Well drained soil mix (washed plaster sand is
often used)
• Experimental trials recommended before big
grow-outs are attempted
• The soil mix must fit the container, plant species,
irrigation, and nursery operation

17. Inoculation
• VA mycorrhizal fungi (P) and rhizobia (N)
may be important for some larger
disturbances such as mines and borrow
pits
• But on most sites native species will
colonize roots
• If needed collect inoculum on site and
put in planting holes

18. Handling
• Efficient and gentle handing and staging
is important to reduce the cost of
planting and improve survival
• Contract growing may be more efficient
than starting a local “nursery” which can
be labor intensive and 24/7

19. Cost per survivor
• It depends on the year, the site, the
planter and the species
• With water and plant protection
• An average survival and cost per
survivor might be something like
– Supercell 40% $15
– Plant band 60% $10
– Tall pot 95% $30

20. The right choice
• There is no one container or production
system suitable for all conditions and species
• Deep containers generally result in higher
survival and better growth
• A combination of small through large
containers is often best
• This might include 10% tall pots, 20% half
highs, 30% plant bands and 40% supercells

21. Out of season
• Growing plants out of season never
seems to be worth it
• Even when contracts come at the wrong
time it is better to wait
• Build in sufficient time to collect seed,
prepare sites and grow healthy plants

22. Everything has to be right!
• Neglect of any of the key factors may lead to
complete failure or very low survival
• Plant protection rarely receives sufficient
attention
• Irrigation is important and rainwater harvesting
can help
• With careful preparation, good protection and
some water -- excellent survival and growth
may be achieved with minimal water use,
limited maintenance, and low cost

23. The toughest conditions
• Off road vehicle
damage A-BDSP
• Far from the road,
4wd access only
• Pitting, seeding and
container planting

24. For more information
• Introductory bulletins at http://works.bepress.com/
david_a_bainbridge/
• More papers and reports at http://alliant.academia.edu/
DavidBainbridge
• Images and reprints: Special collections UC Davis Library
• Books:
• 2015. Gardening with Less Water. Storey (Award Winner)
• 2012. Restoration of arid and semi-arid lands. Chapter 10 In J.
van Andel and J. Aronson, Restoration Ecology: The New
Frontier. Blackwell.
• 2007. A Guide for Desert and Dryland Restoration: New
Hope for Arid Lands. Island Press.