Potbound nursery stock advice

[Webos]

Gday guys,
Over the past 6 months I've been collecting nursery stock to chop down when chopping season arrives. I've acquired Metasequoias, Zelkovas, Maples, plums and a few other things. Most of them are in 20 inch pots. I popped open one of the Zelkovas the other day (Of which I have 5 or 6), and it was extremely rootbound. The root system was so matted that it was as hard as rock. It took me 5 or 6hrs to chop, saw, comb, slice and dice the root ball down to a manageable size. The base of the trunk was down so far in the pot that it took a lot of time and care just to find the source of this great mess of roots.

As mentioned, I have many of these trees and they all need repotting, but I just dont have the time to spend 6hrs on each tree.

Does anyone out there have any advice on dealing with extreme potbound trees and cutting down the time it takes to untangle and rootprune these trees?

Thanks and look forward to hearing from all of you...

[Elias]

Hi Webos,

This is what I do on decidous trees, I pull out my reciprocating saw (Hand saw would suffice)and hack off about half of the root ball, then tease out the roots trim further as needed.
I'm sure you can trim a lot more of the rootball with a saw maybe even up to 2/3 but I like to keep some roots and then trim again the following year a bit harder if required.

What does everyone else do...?

Elias

[MelaQuin]

Mate, it is hard yakka.... I find good success with a jet spray from my hose but it is not a really strong spray. That often helps move the soil. Soak trees overnight in water laced with Saturaid or Wetasoil to try to get water into the roots. This has only moderate success. If the tree has been in the pot for a long time and is so root bound it will repel water and it just takes incredible patience and an aching back to loosen the roots. Often I will do several and claw a bit then spray and soak, claw some more then spray and soak. Occasionally I have lost a tree because it simply couldn't stand the disturbance.

Another way is to cut 3 pie slices out of the rootball and fill those with new soil. Next year cut three more pie slices and remove more of the old soil. By year 3 you could have it done. I did that to one tree that was so compacted I could not scratch the soil surface and I think I must have taken away the only 3 areas of roots or the disturbance sent the thing over the edge because in one week it was totally dead. But it does work... IF you want to wait that long.

You will find some of the trees might not be so bad and only a few will take the hours of work. Your deciduous can be cut pretty close to the trunk so sawing is the way to go there.

So try to ease your labours by loosening the soil edges and soaking in a deep tub with pots removed so there's no hinderence to getting water to the roots. You could also stab down into the root ball - top and sides - to try to let water penetrate. It's a mugs game.... but it's only once... after you do this the future root prunes will be bliss...

[Webos]

Appreciate the replies guys....Just counted and I have about 11 trees to do... Looks I'm on the right track because I did resort to the reciprocating saw on the 2nd Zelkova I chopped... Good thing I'm starting early as I'd never get them all done between bud swell and bud burst as recommended by everything I've read. The wife is gonna kill me for spending the entire length of Winter in the garage chopping at roots, but as you mentioned, its only the once..then root pruning will be a breeze in years to come (until I acquire my next lot!!).

Thanks a lot guys and look forward to any other advice to come..

[aaron_tas]

bang the root mass against a rock, hard and repeatedly.

and i also use a strong jet of water and a good root hook/rake, rocipro saws are another favorite of mine

[Webos]

So AaronTas....you recommend a HARD KNOCK? I will give that a go...only prob is that they weigh a ton. But will definitely try

[MelaQuin]

At least your wife knows you are in the garage 'rooting' as opposed to being in the pub etc, etc, etc.....

[Webos]

Haha...I was gonna make a rooting in the garage joke myself, but I am new to the forum (I'm new to forums of all kinds......I always thought they were full of people that whinge and complain to each other too much)

Anyway let it be known everyone...rooting jokes on AusBonsai = ok!

[Deemon]

AHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Finally I an home.

[Bretts]

Webos I am a bit offended by your rooting innuendos but I can give you some advice on root pruning deciduous trees of the species you specify.
Use a root hook of some description. I use a three pronged ripper that came with a kneeling mat from the $2 store
Start on the surface roots. Dig down with the root hook until you find the main roots. Be harsh any roots above these are mostly expendable roots. After you have gotten down to the nebari look at cutting through the remaining root ball by 1/2 to a 1/3. Once that is done slap it against a rock as Arron suggest or do whatever necessary to untangle the roots. Try to save as many roots as possible but do not fret.
Splay roots out and cut any downward growing roots from the base of the tree. When pruning the outward growing roots think of the aesthetics of the tree and also that you want thick roots down to feeder roots as quickly as possible. Feeder roots are good but you will need to be drastic on the first round of root work.
This is easy and fatalities are rare if you do it at the correct time. Watch the trees buds as they swell is the perfect time and will let you be the most drastic. After care is also important. I think the tree will recover better from a harsh root prune that takes an hour at the right time is better than a hesitant root prune that takes 6 hours. As a beginner I have root pruned all sought of deciduous trees over the last 4 years and have never lost any of them from root pruning at the correct time. Watch the buds as soon as they start to swell get in and do what has to be done it is thew best chance it has.
I would love to see some pictures I am sure we could give even better advice then.

[Webos]

Gday Brett,
Thanks for the advice...if you read back thru the posts, you'll see that the rooting innuendo's were not me....they were Melaquin (the dirty so and so!) There are still more than 10 trees to go so I will definitely get some shots of the process next time I crack one open and post them here.

I have a ripper here but I have been using a combination of reciprocating saw, little 3 tooth Bonsai root rake, and a pointy stainless steel spear type impliment (found it in the garage...not exactly sure what its for).

Once again...Thanks

[Bretts]

I have always said if when you have to tell people you are joking then it musn't have been very funny.
I guess I wasn't very funny