Root of the problem ! - bonsaiTALK Community

17-Oct-2004

Ian_Homer

Square Tree - Round Pot!

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Root of the problem !

I post here two pictures of the base of a really nice hollow trunk hawthorn I purchased last year. It is still in the original mica pot and I intend to repot into something nice this Spring, while at the same time cleaning up the deadwood.

However, as with most trees, it has several flaws, the biggest of which is the "flying" root acting as a drain channel to the inner core. Given this is on the "front" on the basis of the tree comes forward over this area - I think I have a plan . .

To cut this off in the next few weeks, since the roots are no longer supplying much energy to the to the tree (leaves are falling) while it then means the roots attached will then die back over winter, and can be removed during the re-pot or left to decay - depending on how tangled the mass is on closer inspection at the time.

I then intend to make the front the other side which is shown in the second view, with the "flying root" indicated by the arrow. There seems to be plenty of other roots to support the tree. Next year I will then develop the top to re-instate the front to match the better view.

Is this a good option do you think ?
Is a part of the tree likely to die-back as a result of removing quite a substantial root?

Has anyone experience of this operation ?

Appreciate any help.

Attached Images

	hawthorn1.jpg (69.7 KB, 50 views)
	hawthorn2.jpg (64.6 KB, 55 views)

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Last edited by Ian Homer : 17-Oct-2004 at 03:07 PM.

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17-Oct-2004	#2
TreeBay Tips:5¢ Advice:Free *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Silicon Valley Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 9,738	First, I think your tree won't have any functional problem if you remove this root. Second, the text seems to suggest that the first view is the front of the tree? I can't see the entire tree, but the rootage really looks MUCH better in the second view. I would want to see a photo taken from a more normal vantage point before suggesting that you remove that root, perhaps showing the entire tree from the front and back. The current photo appears to look down on the trunkbase, and might disguise the relative elevation of the roots. In the second view, it appears to complement and extend the rootbase. Finally, it's probably best to do this kind of work on a deciduous tree with the plant nearly in a bareroot state if you have never seen the actual roots before. You might have anything under the surface, including a second level root system. Sometimes a root that looks like it might not be important actually is, or vice-versa. So I would wait for repotting to make a selection. Still curious about the "real" front, Matt __________________ Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today! bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!