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The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the geocomposite (GC) on macronutrient uptake of container-grown Brunnera macrophylla and substrate properties. The GC consists of super-absorbent polymer (SAP), internal skeleton and non-woven geotextile. It was designed to retain water in the soil in a form available for plants, by roots overgrowing the geotextile to access water. The GC was soaked in a multi-compound fertilizer (Insol® U) and compared with soluble fertilizer (SF) and controlled-release fertilizer (CRF). The fertilizer rates were calculated to cover the equal N supply: 0.36 and 0.72 g N plant−1. Nitrogen uptake of Brunnera cultivated with the geocomposite was approximately twice and three times as high as that of plants fertilized with SF and CRF, respectively. Exceptionally high N content was observed in plants cultivated with the GC-0.72 g N plant−1. The use of the GC also enhanced the accumulation of K and P, while CRF strongly reduced their content in plants. Distinct relations could be observed in the case of Ca accumulation. GC-0.72 g N plant−1 increased EC and water content in the medium without direct contact between SAP and substrate.

North American hackberry as a tree with resistance to Dutch elm diseases, pollutions and urban conditions is predisposed to becoming one of the common tree species for urban areas. Therefore, it is necessary to develop methods for nursery production of this species. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of fertilization and different methods of cultivation in rows with simultaneous use of geocomposite on the growth of North American hackberry in nursery production. Mechanical fallow in rows ha the most prefer-ably influence, while living mulch with perennial ryegrass had rather negative impact on tested biometric features of North American hackberry. There was found a positive correlation between biometric features and foliar N content, as well as negative correlation between biometric features and soil salinity.

Propagation of juniper from cuttings is the primary method used in the nursery. Process of rhizogenesis in these plants is long and not always allows to obtain a good quality of rooted cuttings. In the experiment there was investigated the effect of laser light doses (semiconductor laser, model CTL 1106MX, power 200 mW, wave length 670 μm) and the footing agent AB on percentage of rooted cuttings, plants height, length and the number of roots. The examined juniper taxa proved diverse response to the variants applied (combination of laser radiation and the rooting agent AB). The increase in the number of rooted cuttings after application of the rooting agent AB, as well as three times introduced irradiation in Eastern redcedar ‘Blue Arrow’. This form also produced longer roots for the variant combining twelve times applied irradiation and the effect of rooting agent. In the cuttings of Chinese juniper ‘Stricta’, exposed to laser radiation in six – (D6) and twelve times applied doses (D12), there was observed significant stimulation of root length. Introduced treatment variants of shoot cuttings of Common juniper ‘Schneverdinger Goldmachangel’ brought about considerable root elongation (except for D3 dose). The dose providing for significant increase in the percentage of rooted cuttings in all the examined juniper varieties proved to be D3 dose.

Previous research demonstrated positive influence of hydrophilic polymers on plant growth. Their utilization in agriculture is based mainly on mixing with the soil or medium. The aim of the experiment was to asses the influence of new form of supersorbent application in form of geocomposite consisted of polymer closed inside geotextile on development of Erigeron hybridus hort., Eupatorium purpureum L. and Silene chalcedonica (L.) E. Krause. The first factor of the experiment was utilization of geocomposite, the second one – pine bark mulching. After soaking in water geocomposite was placed in soil and plants were planted above. The growth and flowering of plants were assessed in the term of their most abundant flowering. The experiment documented positive influence of geocomposite on vegetative growth, it is: plant diameter and the number of shoots of all species as well as the height of Eupatorium. It also prompted Eupatorium and Erigeron flowering: plants developed more inflorescences of increased diameter. Pine bark positively determined the diameter of Eupatorium, whereas negatively influenced Silene diameter and number of shoots.

In 1998–2001, 2025 trees-of-heaven were recorded in 647 locations in Wrocław, Lower Silesia, Poland. They grew in a variety of habitats. Most were found in lowor high-density residential areas, commercial areas, and in city’s parks. These habitats were moderately to highly transformed and classified as euhemerobic, mainly β-euhemerobic. The mean level of their hemeroby was 61. This is probably an optimum level of hemeroby for tree-of-heaven growing in the urban environment. Because the highest concentration of the locations, where tree-of-heaven grows, was found in densely developed areas of the urban thermal island, it is considered a thermophilic species adapted to urban conditions. Tree-of-heaven spreads largely spontaneously. It is a pioneer species colonising habitats unsuitable for other trees. Therefore, it is recommended for planting in urban areas, especially those situated in western Poland.