what type of soil???

how big a pot are we talking about???

ken

Still mostly an academic discussion, it will depend on many things coming together. I'm thinking of a future building lot we are trying to acquire. Mostly just my morbid curiosity at the moment.

Let's say a silt loam (with some clay but not "real" clay) and rootballs about 12" to 24" wide as a likely scenario.

Seems to me it would be great for trees with taproots, like oaks. I like the idea...but I'm kind of lazy.

I think it would probably be best to still dig a shallow whole the conventional way...splay some smaller roots to the sides to keep the plant from sliding too deep down and plunge the taproots straight down the post hole.

I have done hundreds of trees with auger holes. Glazing the sides is usually only an issue in heavy clay. But if you feel the hole is too smooth, you can poke it with a pitchfork.

Bowl shape holes are going out of vogue, anyways.

The most important facet is to bee sure the hole is not too deep and that the trees don't sink. Check hole depth first, if too deep you will need to back fill and compact the bottom of the hole.