Helping unhealthy nursery junipers through winter.

[Veebs]

Hey all, the other day I got a bunch of huge chonky junipers that are not particularly healthy and are extremely root bound. Like probably in the same nursery pot for 20 years root bound.

Some people would tell my by sight that they’re dead, but I know they aren’t both by feel and by experience, as I’ve nursed them back to healthy from this state before.

However, it is a long time till spring. I feel like I need to do something to help them now.

I could just up pot them into larger pots and put healthy soil on the bottoms and sides, but I’m wondering if I should shave a bit off their bottoms and sides first to trigger new root growth.

Thoughts? Photos of the chonkiest ones below. You can see their trunk diameter is like 33%-50% of the pot diameter

 

[shimbrypaku]

Greetings,
Can you provide a full picture of the tree (trees)

Really nice trunk size.

Thanks

 

[Dav4]

Yes, let's see the whole tree. Also, you live in a mild climate and re-pot season for you is only 3-4 months away. I wouldn't be messing with the root ball now if you have the opportunity to do a much more significant and helpful root work session with a 40-50% soil replacement in just a few short months. I suppose you could unpot them and heel them into a pile of composted wood chips for the winter, then get after the roots next year.

Fwiw, a juniper that looks dead usually is unless it's a cultivar that goes typically brown/purple during the dormant season and it's the middle of winter

 

[Veebs]

Added several images. The last image is one of a tree I got last year that was dry as a bone and all the needles had been desaturated of color, but with a bit of care it bounced back.

 

[Veebs]

One more image of nearly dead needles with new growth on top

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I'd dose them with nutrients while there's still some activity left in the year and leave it at that.
Keep them secure from blowing over and maybe provide some protection to the pot if it freezes in your area.
Then repot in spring.