Help please I'm too weak to do this

[carrotsnotsticks]

We have two very big heavy tubs which I usually fill with bedding plants . So just now trying to empty them from last year and the roots of the plants are so huge and I cannot empty out the earth !
I've tipped one over now as I thought that would be easier but it's now a complete mess !,
Any tips ?
It's usually so easy

Can you post a photo? Maybe try slicing through the roots with a carving knife?

it all seems welded in
pathetic but i don't know how to put a photo in

Sounds like it might be root bound - if you have a hosepipe put the pot on its side and use the hose to try and loosen the soil round the edges - it will make a mess but should work. Also check the base to see if roots are protruding and cut them off.

yes there are roots from the bottom
i can't keep going as i'm so hot and bothered
Think i'll have to enlist help or wait for a cooler day
Thankyou for your help i'll try the hose pipe
Was at Kew gardens yesterday and got a fit of wanting to do something nice but now i'm close to having a heat stroke!

Do you have an old bread knife or similar that you can run around the edge of the pot to loosen anything that's sticking to the sides?

i'll try again tomorrow
i'd better try and do something a bit more productive now!
Thankyou for your help all you gardeners really have my admiration

You will get the soil and roots out, just keep going, a bit at a time. When you refill them put a layer of broken polystyrene in the bottom this makes the planter lighter, stops the compost becoming too compacted and won’t hurt the plants.

What about putting an old sheet spread out on one side of the pot.

Then from the other side use a broom stick or crow bar to lever the pot up and tilted over the sheet. Cut any root shoots gripping into the ground with secateurs.