Building Planter Around Tree - Possible?

[dbonsaiw]

I'm thinking about a large tree that needs a repot (currently 9 feet) and was wondering if I could simply cut the existing nursery pot off the tree and build a new box around the tree (open at the bottom) and then fill that with soil rather than try to slip pot this big boy. Thoughts?

 

[roberthu]

I think what you described is a slip pot.
What kind of tree is this?

 

[Gabler]

Pictures?

 

[Eckhoffw]

I'm thinking about a large tree that needs a repot (currently 9 feet) and was wondering if I could simply cut the existing nursery pot off the tree and build a new box around the tree (open at the bottom) and then fill that with soil rather than try to slip pot this big boy. Thoughts?

Is planting it in the earth possible? Perhaps over something like a 2’ square paver.

 

[dbonsaiw]

I think what you described is a slip pot.
What kind of tree is this?

Basically, yes. It's a dawn redwood.

Is planting it in the earth possible? Perhaps over something like a 2’ square paver.

Possibly, although the soil is very compact, rocky and clay. Even digging a small hole wasn't easy.

Pictures?

See attached

 

[Gabler]

Why not wait for spring and do some proper root work? What is the goal behind slip-potting the tree?

 

[dbonsaiw]

Why not wait for spring and do some proper root work? What is the goal behind slip-potting the tree?

I don't need to do this now and can wait for the spring. The goal of the slip pot is to continue growing out the tree. I got a lot of thickening in one year and figured one more year can get the trunk to 3" and make for a more substantial tree. Figured I could also prune off some of the lower branches that grew too large and use the growth to power the healing process.

 

[Gabler]

I don't need to do this now and can wait for the spring. The goal of the slip pot is to continue growing out the tree. I got a lot of thickening in one year and figured one more year can get the trunk to 3" and make for a more substantial tree. Figured I could also prune off some of the lower branches that grew too large and use the growth to power the healing process.

Have you done any root work previously? I'm finding it's best to take care of the roots as soon as possible, and then grow out the tree. Fixing bad roots on a large tree is a huge setback, but slowing growth for a year at the beginning of training while you prune and arrange the roots is a minor setback.

Slip-potting is a recipe for badly-arranged roots.

 

[dbonsaiw]

I've arranged the roots radially, but didn't really cut back. So what would you recommend? Cut the tree back (but not all the way down), repot with root work and continue growing from there?

 

[Gabler]

I've arranged the roots radially, but didn't really cut back. So what would you recommend? Cut the tree back (but not all the way down), repot with root work and continue growing from there?

If the roots are arranged well, then just perform a regular repot to trim back the circling roots and remove the downward-growing roots. Planting the tree in the ground would theoretically hasten growth, but if your soil is bad you might need to amend it to see the growth you want.

 

[dbonsaiw]

then just perform a regular repot to trim back the circling roots and remove the downward-growing roots.

And leave the entire 9+ feet of trunk? Will the leftover roots support such a large tree?

 

[Gabler]

And leave the entire 9+ feet of trunk? Will the leftover roots support such a large tree?

It might be a good idea to stake the tree for a year, depending on how stable it is after you perform rootwork.

 

[dbonsaiw]

It might be a good idea to stake the tree for a year, depending on how stable it is after you perform rootwork.

Will the leftover roots be enough to feed a massive tree? Or should the foliage be reduced to match the roots?

 

[Gabler]

Will the leftover roots be enough to feed a massive tree? Or should the foliage be reduced to match the roots?

Generally, the tree should balance itself out, but if there's a huge imbalance between the foliage and remaining roots, I guess it might help to reduce the foliage mass a bit, so the tree doesn't over-tax its reduced root mass. Be sure to leave lots of active terminal buds on the remaining branches. Top growth fuels root growth.