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Don't do it. It's way too hot here in Florida now. I'm in central Florida and have been digging pines for many years. Best done in January or as best as you can hit the coldest period of the year so the tree is dormant. It will take a lot of digging to do it right. You need to trench around the tree leaving a root-ball and then go under that with a sharp shovel or saw and hack the taproot. Do not disturb the existing soil when you dig. I wrap them in old sheets and douse with a little water to keep everything moist. Then hurry back home and carefully wash the old soil off - trim no more roots than what you need to fit into a grow pot or box and plant in fast draining coarse soil with low organic content. DO NOT FERTILIZE YET! Give it a few weeks to recover and then fertilize at half the recommended rate for 6 months. Let it grow for a year or two and then begin root pruning. Top prune after 6 months. If the timing works out the time to hit it with full dosage fertilizer and new candles may work out just right.

I know it sucks to let the trees go but if you dig now there is a 99% chance they are dead anyway. To make yourself feel better go to a good nursery and get a slash pine in a 15 gallon pot - the roots will be better as they only know pot culture.

If you can find sand pine take a look good look at one. They are local Florida pines and have much smaller and very short needles as compared to a slash pine. I have reduced sand pine needles to a consistent 3/4" on some of my trees. They bud back very well on old wood. As far as care treat either sand or slash pine them just like black pines.

Hope this helps.

19-Jul-2006	#3
Graydon bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Apr-2006 Location: Lakeland - Florida Country: United States USDA Zone: 9A AHS Heat Zone: 11 Posts: 1,004	Don't do it. It's way too hot here in Florida now. I'm in central Florida and have been digging pines for many years. Best done in January or as best as you can hit the coldest period of the year so the tree is dormant. It will take a lot of digging to do it right. You need to trench around the tree leaving a root-ball and then go under that with a sharp shovel or saw and hack the taproot. Do not disturb the existing soil when you dig. I wrap them in old sheets and douse with a little water to keep everything moist. Then hurry back home and carefully wash the old soil off - trim no more roots than what you need to fit into a grow pot or box and plant in fast draining coarse soil with low organic content. DO NOT FERTILIZE YET! Give it a few weeks to recover and then fertilize at half the recommended rate for 6 months. Let it grow for a year or two and then begin root pruning. Top prune after 6 months. If the timing works out the time to hit it with full dosage fertilizer and new candles may work out just right. I know it sucks to let the trees go but if you dig now there is a 99% chance they are dead anyway. To make yourself feel better go to a good nursery and get a slash pine in a 15 gallon pot - the roots will be better as they only know pot culture. If you can find sand pine take a look good look at one. They are local Florida pines and have much smaller and very short needles as compared to a slash pine. I have reduced sand pine needles to a consistent 3/4" on some of my trees. They bud back very well on old wood. As far as care treat either sand or slash pine them just like black pines. Hope this helps.