1 This pyracantha was started from a cutting five or six years ago. It is transplanted every two years or so, always before the new buds swell. The work pot was chosen large for the size of the cutting, to let the roots grow well. Now we will transplant it into a decorative pot.

2 Remove from work pot. Use a bamboo skewer or similar tool to untangle roots and remove loose soil.

3 Cut away more than two-thirds of the roots. To give the impression that the tree is anchored firmly to the ground, cut off roots that grow upward and thick roots that grow down. Leave thin roots that are about the same size. After repeated transplanting over the years, the base of the tree will expand and create a stronger impression of stability.

4 Choose a decorative pot that will give a good visual balance of size, color and shape. Bend thin wire as shown and pass through a wire drainage mesh used in horticulture. The mesh will prevent soil from leaking out. Insert both ends of the wire through the hole in the pot, bend both ends on the underside to secure the wire, then slide the mesh down to cover the hole.

5 Secure the mesh and cut off excess wire protruding from the bottom.