This one is ok, calocedrus decurrens 'compacta'

{{gwi:635045}}

And this one, juniperus sabina 'variegata'

{{gwi:635047}}

But this one has a broken top (cupressus glabra arctic

{{gwi:635048}}

heres just the top

{{gwi:635049}}

A new top will form. All look underpotted, non-vigorous; the cypress should not be coning yet. Open up the roots when planting out. Keep them moist while doing this and for some time after planting.

Should be OK, it'll start a new leader in the spring. Within a year or two you'll not notice the difference. The only thing to watch for is that it doesn't end up forked with two competing leaders - if it tries that, head the less straight one back a bit to let the better one take the lead.

Resin

were you pulling teeth during the third picture.... what is that tool?

if its a horticultural tool .... i want to know more about it... if its not.. invest in some felco pruners... #8 suits me .... they even have left handed versions ... a bit pricey ... but mine are going on about 15 years .... used to buy cheap ones.. and then realized i had to re-buy them every year or two ... go figure on that ...

in my sand ... i would water it well the day before planting ..... and make sure it is damp when i tip it out of the pot ...... i would tip them out of the pot .... and spend a few minutes trying to unwind the biggest available root .... and then i would take the felcos .... and take the non sharp hook side.. and make 3 tears down the root ball pulling roots apart as i go .. and then cutting any scarred ones ... then stick it in the earth ... fill half way .. then fill with water... when it is gone.. file about 80% .. more water ... then tamp is secure.. fill the remainder .... and then walk away for at least a week or two ..... or three.. depending on the weather ... let it get near dry before you water them again ... that is what i would do in sand in my zone 5 ....what you should do ... depends on your soil .. and zone .... but make sure you break up the root ball somehow .... it is thought that a little abuse ... stimulates release of growth hormones... and the thing takes off ..... good luck

ken

Looks like Stanley & Sons conifers. I have the Juniperus sabina 'Variegata' that I ordered from him last spring. Mine is identical to yours. If I remember right it had a tangled mast of roots as a result of being in the pot to long. After sorting this out the conifer has done quite well. Not much if any growth this year as I suspect it was establishing its self under ground.
Great conifers.

Dave

Looks like a Bonsai prunning tool

RE: "were you pulling teeth during the third picture.... what is that tool?
if its a horticultural tool .... i want to know more about it..."

Those are called knob cutters, they are a horticultural tool, a bonsai tool actually, very similar to "concave cutters". The idea is that the concave cutting surface allows wounds to heal more flush with trunk.

As for planting them, I now this isnt "the" authoritative reccomendation, but I almost completely bareroot container plants before putting them in the ground. Just because so far in my short gardening experience the plants that didnt make it never colonized roots beyond the boundaries of their original container. I went to pull some dead plants out of the ground and was surprised how easily they came out, original root mass still intact. probably a product of me not watering properly too. Also, now I only do trees and shrubs in fall and winter. (I'm zone 8b). So far so good. Time will tell.

Nice plants.

Dax

Barerooting at planting might put you among the avante garde rather than in the dark.

I can't remember where I ran across this article, might have been here on GW, but it supports bboy's observation.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Myth of Collapsing Root Balls

RE: Barerooting at planting might put you among the avante garde

So I'm an avante gardener? (couldnt pass up the pun)

I'm concerned about the juniper, the tips are brown in many places. Looks like its dying back a little.