Just another Azalea

[kvan64]

I'd like to pot it is a smaller pot but the roots are a bit of a problems. The tap root has become a big woody ball under the soil line and even this was dug up from the garden, the root system is so packed that very little soil could reach close to the base. That's why I had to put it in a big pot.
Any suggestion would be great.

[kcpoole]

Azaleas usually have just a fine mass of roots. rather than the lartge few dividing into many

when repotting. cut the root mass back to fit the pot, then cut V's into the root mass so you can get new soil into it

ken

[kvan64]

Thanks ken. Any suggestion for what time this should be done? Looks like I have to wait till next spring?

[kcpoole]

I do mine after they finish flowering in spring. If you want you can remove all the bus and pot them a little earlier

Ken

[kvan64]

Azaleas usually have just a fine mass of roots. rather than the lartge few dividing into many

when repotting. cut the root mass back to fit the pot, then cut V's into the root mass so you can get new soil into it

ken

Have you personally done the V cutting into the root mass before? Does it have a good survival rate? Thanks

[kcpoole]

Azaleas usually have just a fine mass of roots. rather than the lartge few dividing into many

when repotting. cut the root mass back to fit the pot, then cut V's into the root mass so you can get new soil into it

ken

Have you personally done the V cutting into the root mass before? Does it have a good survival rate? Thanks

Yes I have done it and it works well
the ideal is to expand the amount of the root ball to new soil so that more fine terminal roots can grow

I cut into the root mass about 1/3 - 1/2 way from the outside of the root mass to the trunk, and make about 6 little wedges around the tree.
Pot up and poke new soil into the voids from the wedges

Ken