We recently moved to Chevy Chase, MD and now with the new place my lady is insisting I get the plants out of "those ugly black pots" into something more color full.

Is potting up before I see roots coming out of the bottom of the containers going to harm the trees? It has been very hot and dry here and I am worried.

i think as long as you are just adding more of same soil type into bigger container, it should not be a problem. as long as you do not disturbe the roots that is. i might have to up pot few of 1 gal pots soon. they are growing very fast and the soils are drying up quickly.

As long as your soil doesn't support a lot of perched water you can move in to a much bigger pot. Search for 5:1:1 mix here and on garden web to learn all about it if you don't already know. :)

Thanks for everyones input. I've used the Fafard 3B in the past (not sure if I can get it here in the DC area yet) mixed with the perlite and compost. No compost at the new place yet so I will have to do with out.

Biggest thing now is I need to drill drainage in these new pots the fiance picked out.

If your new planters are larger, you can tuck the old planter into it, surround it with something decorative (mulch nuggets, pebbles, etc.) and leave it until spring.  Do your root work then and plant in a homogenous growing mix.

~james