bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Root Balls On Nursery Stock

You can use a saw on many deciduous species to simply lop off the bottom third to even two-thirds of the matted rootball. Elms, dawn redwood, trident maples, sometimes even Japanese maples, in densely rootbound conditions respond very well to having the bottom of the rootball sawn off and the side of the remaining rootball scored with a sharp knife about an inch into the mass.

Such treatment in early spring, can free up circling roots that have nowhere left to go.

You will do alot more damage to the roots trying to comb them out than this treatment will do.

4-May-2004	#9
rockm bonsaiTALK ArchMaster Join Date: Oct-2003 Location: Fairfax, Va Country: USA USDA Zone: 7 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 4,561	You can use a saw on many deciduous species to simply lop off the bottom third to even two-thirds of the matted rootball. Elms, dawn redwood, trident maples, sometimes even Japanese maples, in densely rootbound conditions respond very well to having the bottom of the rootball sawn off and the side of the remaining rootball scored with a sharp knife about an inch into the mass. Such treatment in early spring, can free up circling roots that have nowhere left to go. You will do alot more damage to the roots trying to comb them out than this treatment will do.