Using old compost full of roots

Rachael · Hazel Tree Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Dublin

Hi all,
I am re potting some of my plants in my balcony garden. One of my hanging baskets needed some jizzing up. The basket was all one mass of roots, many of them appearing to be dead. My question is..... is it ok to break of some of this mass from around each plant, and then break it up and add it to some good new soil, mix it up and then use it to repot the plant? Is it bad or of benefit to have the roots mixed in there?
Thanks,
Rachael

GPI · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 7:34 pm Post subject:

To enable you to create thriving container plantings for the summer, please consider the following…
If you intend replanting any old containers, you should get rid of all traces of compost from the previous year. Be scrupulous in your washing as particles of previous year’s compost can harbour pests, diseases and mould spores.

From here...... Tips on How to Ensure Colour from Containers.

Dig it into you beds and borders instead.
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Remember, a weed is just a plant in the wrong place.

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Rachael · Hazel Tree Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Dublin

Aaaah, that would be a resounding No then Laughing

Thanks GPI, I did have a search for it but all the search terms are fairly commonly used words, like compost Surprised

Warm regards,
Rachael

Clarabel · Hazel Tree Joined: 13 Jul 2008 Posts: 20

So would it be a bad idea to use the compost from this years containers as a mulch in the main garden?

BlackBird · Silver Birch Tree Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 161

Clarabel · Hazel Tree Joined: 13 Jul 2008 Posts: 20

Oh thanks for that.

for permenant container plants, this is where you remove the top few inches and replace with good new compost?