Pruning branches and roots

jwishbone · Post by **jwishbone** » September 29th, 2009, 7:09 pm

Hi guys

just wondering if it is highly recommended that when a nursery tree has been cut in half or lower and branches are pruned

is it advisable to prune the roots hard as well to create a blance?

...or do you just leave the roots as they are to reduce shock to the plant??

what other factors needs to be evaluated? season? type of tree?

thanks

Jamie · Post by **Jamie** » September 29th, 2009, 7:14 pm

dont qoute me on this because i dont have any major experience with it, but if it was me doing the trunk chop, thats what i think you are talking about is to do the chop, tend to it, then let it grow out agian leaving the roots as this will allow the tree to come back with more vigor giving your new chosen leader the strength to grow, and allow buds to pop down the tree for new branch selection.

hope this helps. more experienced in this will be able to guide you

regards jamie

Post by **kcpoole** » September 29th, 2009, 7:22 pm

I believe the following rules of thumb apply and which I usually do adhere to if possible.

Deciduous trees - Whatever you take from above the ground, balance the tree by taking the same from underneath. I believe this applies to Natives as well

Pines - Do not prune the roots and the foliage in the same year. Do major Root pruning one year and then the major Branch reduction the next

As allways, these can be modified as needed given the correct after care is applied

Ken

Jamie · Post by **Jamie** » September 29th, 2009, 8:19 pm

kcpoole wrote:I believe the following rules of thumb apply and which I usually do adhere to if possible.

Deciduous trees - Whatever you take from above the ground, balance the tree by taking the same from underneath. I believe this applies to Natives as well

Pines - Do not prune the roots and the foliage in the same year. Do major Root pruning one year and then the major Branch reduction the next

As allways, these can be modified as needed given the correct after care is applied

Ken

thats a more inforamtive post then mine, thanks kc. helped me a bit to

MasonC · Post by **MasonC** » September 29th, 2009, 8:24 pm

with most of my deciduous species i prune and repot nursery stock at the same time. i think it gives them more of a chance to grow out and start again.

stymie · Post by **stymie** » September 29th, 2009, 8:37 pm

All very sensible guys. Balancing out supply and demand is the way to go. i.e. When 30% of roots are removed, we take away a similar percentage of top growth to compensate. Therefore it follows that roots should be reduced when the canopy is removed. It seems like standard bonsai technique to me.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » September 29th, 2009, 9:01 pm

nice one good question with great answers

MasonC · Post by **MasonC** » September 29th, 2009, 9:02 pm

yer. that should give you most of the answers you need

jwishbone · Post by **jwishbone** » September 29th, 2009, 9:06 pm

awesome answers... definitely gives me a great indication on what I need to do with newly acquired stock from nurseries...

thanks guys!

I assume that this rule applies to evergreens as well.....

MasonC · Post by **MasonC** » September 29th, 2009, 9:07 pm

i am not quite sure. but i have heard that you prune conifers one year and repot the next.

jwishbone · Post by **jwishbone** » September 29th, 2009, 9:16 pm

oh ok treat them like pines as kcpoole has suggested.. ok kewl..!

pines are evergreens right? dohhh sorry. I meant Junipers not evergreens haha sorry I got confused...

Post by **kcpoole** » September 29th, 2009, 9:25 pm

jwishbone wrote:oh ok treat them like pines as kcpoole has suggested.. ok kewl..!

pines are evergreens right? dohhh sorry. I meant Junipers not evergreens haha sorry I got confused...

Only reason I did not use the term evergreen is that for me here, Elms are evergreen! Figs I will treat the same as deciduous and trim both top and bottom at the same time

Junipers I have done both ends at the same time, but we have mild seasons here so maybe that was how I got away with it

Ken

jwishbone · Post by **jwishbone** » September 29th, 2009, 9:27 pm

kcpoole wrote:
jwishbone wrote:oh ok treat them like pines as kcpoole has suggested.. ok kewl..!

pines are evergreens right? dohhh sorry. I meant Junipers not evergreens haha sorry I got confused...
Only reason I did not use the term evergreen is that for me here, Elms are evergreen! Figs I will treat the same as deciduous and trim both top and bottom at the same time

Junipers I have done both ends at the same time, but we have mild seasons here so maybe that was how I got away with it

Ken

haha not your fault.. it was me who got confused! I was thinking of my juniper thats ol

oh ok maybe I can get away with it too.. Im in western sydney as well...

thanks mate.. been a great help!

LZRD84 · Post by **LZRD84** » October 2nd, 2009, 7:32 pm

does anyone have any good material (book/video) on pruning roots?

I am extremely new at this, and watch videos on youtube, but half of its rubbish anyways... just looking for some solid material.

Lzrd out.

Post by **kcpoole** » October 2nd, 2009, 10:12 pm

LZRD84 wrote:does anyone have any good material (book/video) on pruning roots?

I am extremely new at this, and watch videos on youtube, but half of its rubbish anyways... just looking for some solid material.

Lzrd out.

Check out Lindsay Farrs videos on Bonsai farm
http://www.bonsaifarm.tv/content/category/4/13/37/ .

Some useful info there

AusBonsai

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