3 gallons make it a breeze. I take a chopstick and break up a little half moon in the top of soil where I'm taking slurry, then I scrap that away because when I just push my measuring spoon down the side without doing this it breaks off a larger section of soil & roots. So I clear the bone gum and some topsoil so I can push the Tablespoon down side of pot, wiggle/press/up&down/sidetoside and as I pull the spoon up it comes out with a perfect tablespoon of soil, repeat to get another tablespoon to measure. Take the broken up half moon soil and work it back into the slurry whole. Mix it with some castings or fresh soil If more is required to plug the hole. Bubba has it a little easier, he is in 5 gallons, there is all kinds of room to slurry but I still recommend breaking up the surface like explained.