AusBonsai

I would certainly cut Chinese quince as hard as the tridents in the photos if the roots needed it but maybe that would be about the limit I think for a larger tree. Small, young stock can usually stand harder pruning.

I have experienced occasional dieback after root pruning Chinese elms. I suspect it may be a fungal infection so last year I treated all transplanted elms with fungicide powder as a preventative and had no trouble. Coincidence maybe but worth bearing in mind. I've also started to transplant elms later so the cut roots are exposed for less time before they start to grow and heal up.

Thanks for the response Shibui, much appreciated!

Hi Shibui
Wish I had read what you said about chinese elms earlier, I root pruned my c/elm pretty hard last week . Would it help if I watered in a systemic fungicide , or should I repot and treat the roots with powder.
cheers peterb

shibui wrote: I've also started to transplant elms later so the cut roots are exposed for less time before they start to grow and heal up.

Agree with working on these later. I always wait for bud-swell (which is usually the last week of July where I live) before doing root work on Chinese Elms, and have never had an issue or needed to use fungicide. I have taken to the roots of trees with trunk diameter up to 200mm with a chainsaw at this time without any problems.

Great thread guys... keep the info coming! !

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doing root work on Chinese Elms, and have never had an issue or needed to use fungicide.

Up until a few years ago I had not had any problems either and I suspect that most hobby growers will never have this problem, even when root pruning a bit earlier. I think that the more trees one has growing the greater the risk of a disease starting and spreading. Most people don't have that issue but I do.

Wish I had read what you said about chinese elms earlier, I root pruned my c/elm pretty hard last week . Would it help if I watered in a systemic fungicide , or should I repot and treat the roots with powder.

See above Peter. It probably won't be a problem for you with a small number of plants. Pests and diseases build up slowly over time where there is plenty of hosts. If you are worried you could try a systemic fungicide but you need to check what the fungicide treats. Some target leaf fungal issues, some are aimed at root problems.

Thanks Shibui, really appreciate the knowledge and experience you freely share with us
cheers peterb

DavidN wrote:Here is a use for old/defunct CDs/DVDs that no longer work etc. I was able to get my hands on a whole stack of old software CD's and thought of a possible use for them.

One thing I tried with seedling tridents last spring was when I root pruned them I threaded the seedling through the middle hole of 3 CD's held together. This would act like a torniqet and would hopefully ground layer the seeding and caused a nice flat nebari to form. I'll be leaving them for a couple of years before I lift them though but is another experiment I thought was worth the effort.

David N

David did the cd trick work or not?

Hey do you think that this would be good for creating nebari? https://www.bunnings.com.au/metal-mate- ... t_p1112749

pureheart wrote:Hey do you think that this would be good for creating nebari? https://www.bunnings.com.au/metal-mate- ... t_p1112749

Yep, that'll work as will CDs/DVDs as mentioned above ... Probably cheaper too. Cut them down a bit depending on the pot size you use, or I guess leave them as is if you are planting in the ground.

Great advice guys .
But im interested in some more help in developing nebari in older trees or larger stock and collected trees . Cds arent very practical for these .
Im a bit scared to surface layer or worried that ringing an old thick beauty will kill it .

dibly_w wrote:Great advice guys .
But im interested in some more help in developing nebari in older trees or larger stock and collected trees . Cds arent very practical for these .
Im a bit scared to surface layer or worried that ringing an old thick beauty will kill it .

what species?
Root graft is probably the fastest way, or you can try the toothpick method
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=15938&start=0&hilit=toothpick

Ken