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5-May-2008
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#1 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
Join Date: Apr-2008
Location: Southern NJ
Country: USA
Posts: 10
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On my way to killing another nursery stock tree...
Found an unwanted Hinoki on sale at the local nursery. Nice trunk and branches, so I took it home. The tree was so pot-bound that the soil, even wet, was hard as a rock and I couldn't even tell how far down the trunk went under the mass of strangling roots. (Maybe I should just skip these trees). After freeing it from its pot, I spent a couple of hours trying to untangle the tight root ball, but it became a hopeless exercise. Not realizing that the crown of the tree was buried 5 inches into the root mass, I started cutting away roots from the ball, but at the bottom. When I finally reached the nebari, about the only roots left were the useless ones circling the trunk.
 There are a few roots now coming off of the trunk, but not many. This one may end up a driftwood sculpture unless a miracle occurs. |
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On my way to killing another nursery stock tree... |
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6-May-2008
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#2 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Chief
Join Date: Mar-2006
Location: West Springfield Massachusetts
Country: USA
USDA Zone: zone 5
Posts: 1,198
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Tough SOB's they seem to always be deeper than expected. Place it out of the sun for a few weeks, and mist often. Good Luck.
__________________
If at first you don't succeed -- skydiving is not for you. Always remember that you're unique -- just like everyone else Enjoy this day. Bill |
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7-May-2008
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#3 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
Join Date: Apr-2008
Location: Southern NJ
Country: USA
Posts: 10
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After reading Brent Walston's article on rootballs, I don't feel so bad. Doesn't help the tree, but at least I know I'm not alone in making this mistake:
"Growth of this kind presents a problem when root pruning and repotting because you often don't really know where the root crown is. It is very easy to buy a rootbound nursery plant, slice off the bottom portion of the roots with a saw or axe, and then find out you just cut off the bottom of the trunk. You have to proceed slowly and carefully when root pruning rootbound trees. It is difficult and arduous." |
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8-May-2008
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#4 |
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Grower of potted sticks
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I have not read the aforementioned article on rootballs,but I have learned my lesson,and will never buy another rootbound evergreen again.Deciduous trees are one thing.Once they go dormant,you can play with the roots all you want.You can bang 'em on the ground,you can completely comb out the roots,and nine times put of ten,the plants will come out of dormancy with no problem,but rootbound evergreens are nothing but problems.I killed three so far this year.
Two,a live oak,and a tangerine,I worked on in the last week of February.I don't know if it is standard pactice or not,but I was able to bare root both of these trees,completely without undoing the roots.The rootballs were about nine ot ten inches tall I cut about two inches off the top and bottom of each rootball,and did nothing to else them.Both went into shock and died. |
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