AusBonsai

I have this privet air layer that is growing strong at the minute using the escape method. I want to root prune, bare root ,cut the stub and arrange the roots before they become too thick. The root work I want to do probibly won't leave many roots . Can I get away with doing this work now or in a months time?
I would difoilate as well .

I would do them now. For me here they are not deciduous or stop growing in winter anyway.
Shibui does Maples in summer, so privet should have no issues as the hottest weather finished now.

Ken

Thanks ken . I have decided to just cut the roots growing into the groung and leave it in its pot until spring. Am afraid of getting die back or setting it Back too much . I have found them to be slow to put on top growth instead putting out heaps of root growth.

privets are tough, i have root pruned in summer a number of times with no problems. and in the milder weather we can be expecting, privets usually put on a new flush of growth; i would say go for it

Hi Paulneill,
I repotted one of my Privets a couple of weeks ago. This is one of my more established trees and I didn't have any reservations about repotting. I would have cut at least a third off the bottom and racked out the other roots. I soaked the tree in Seasol for an hour or so before removing it from the pot. The after care is important. Give the tree a drink of Seasol at least a couple of times a week. If you are going to do that much work on the roots I would cut the top back by a third. Wait to you see the tree bouncing back and then you could do more work on the top. With all this said, it is your tree, so only do what you feel is right for the tree.

Regards Ray

privets are tough... but I root pruned and re styled my one mid summer and it just hasn't sprung back... they said I couldn't kill a privet... well... give me a challenge like that and see what happens!! I'm still hoping that it'll surprise me one morning with some buds