Unless you mash on the sides, as in the description you provided, it doesn't break large numbers of important feeder roots. Al

Thanks for the replies everyone and especially for the picture from Phyllis. While going over my pots yesterday I noticed not one of them had a hole directly in the middle as do most clay pots, so hubby's drill will come in handy this week. I've lurked here now for about 5 or 6 years, think I became a member in 2001, and have learned so much from all of you. I have done one BB and 2 smaller styrofoam balls, using GEII and they have held up fantastically. I also shreeked to a stop one day while driving with my son for a metal headboard that later became a trellis for one of my climbing roses. Eventually if we can figure out how to use the digital camera I bought my hubby a few years ago, I'll post pictures. Again, thanks for the replies. Alberta

I finally remembered what I once used to keep plastic cups upright. I had some trays that were for washing drink glasses in a commercial dishwasher. I got them a a place called "salvage" at the nearby state university. Someone said that universities had renamed their salvage yards to "recycle" facilities. Lots of interesting stuff at these places if you should be near a university.

They may be called Forestry tubes. Here's a site with some tubes. I tried " bands" but nothing at all appeared on Google. Here is a link that might be useful: Forestry tubes