How can I preserve this nebari while growing out this juniper?
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Those large roots look pretty lignified so they shouldn't be moving. I would try to preserve any fine feeder roots, (not cut them back too much or off completely) coming from them to keep those roots alive
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
What do you mean by 'preserve the nebari'?
What about improve the nebari? IMHO the thicker roots are a bit too long and unbranched. I'd be cutting those now to get more feeder roots ramifying closer to the trunk.
Can't see anything that stands out as needling to be done now. Juniper are not known for roots getting out of hand so I'd just check every few years to make sure nothing unwanted is happening down there.
Traditional spiral wiring is not a good idea on roots because you can't see what's happening under the soil. Roots thicken just like branches so wire will bite in and strangle roots. Adjusting position can be done with wire hooks or pieces of stick. I find it easier to cut off roots going in the wrong direction. Where you cut a root you'll usually get several new ones growing from the chopped end.
What about improve the nebari? IMHO the thicker roots are a bit too long and unbranched. I'd be cutting those now to get more feeder roots ramifying closer to the trunk.
Can't see anything that stands out as needling to be done now. Juniper are not known for roots getting out of hand so I'd just check every few years to make sure nothing unwanted is happening down there.
Traditional spiral wiring is not a good idea on roots because you can't see what's happening under the soil. Roots thicken just like branches so wire will bite in and strangle roots. Adjusting position can be done with wire hooks or pieces of stick. I find it easier to cut off roots going in the wrong direction. Where you cut a root you'll usually get several new ones growing from the chopped end.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Make sure that you focus on removing downward growing roots from the trunk and/or spread them to align with the nebari, and ensure you keep these nice roots well ramnified by regular pruning. So.. Proper rootball development.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
I was also confused about the phrase "preserve the nebari".
My first interpretation was the OP wanted to keep them long (ie negarilike).
I agree with Shuibui and Leatherback that pruning will promote ramification and should result in better nebari In the future.
My first interpretation was the OP wanted to keep them long (ie negarilike).
I agree with Shuibui and Leatherback that pruning will promote ramification and should result in better nebari In the future.
Tieball
Masterpiece
I’ve kept roots spread with rock pebbles placed between to sort of hold a position. When I tie a tree into a container I use longer wires and place excess wire ends in positions to push certain roots in a preferred direction (I would never wire roots directly though). Those roots you have will grow as the tree grows. You'll learn about and perform root pruning along the growth cycles. With care you can maintain the visual composition of the roots, and they will change over time….perhaps to an even better composition.
I thought the nebari looked pretty cool the way it’s spreading. But it sounds like cutting them back might be the way to go?
How far back should I cut them? If I’m understanding correctly, cutting them will promote finer root development which will aid in the tree being able to get nutrients easier?
How far back should I cut them? If I’m understanding correctly, cutting them will promote finer root development which will aid in the tree being able to get nutrients easier?
Tieball
Masterpiece
Others with more experience with the species will comment and likely be better than my comment and example attached.
I prune roots back to where fine roots are growing. Those fine roots will develop more and then eventually you’ll cut them back also. The attached is how I’d approach the roots. The white line being the cut point. The red lines appear to be roots you have growing. Roots could be cut back further but you need to figure where as you have the roots in front of you.
Root pruning may require certain timing. Rely on species experts to comment more. I’m not a juniper expert. What I show in the attachment is most how I prune all roots.
Understanding that you just planted this I would let the tree recover and grow this season…no more fiddling with roots.
I prune roots back to where fine roots are growing. Those fine roots will develop more and then eventually you’ll cut them back also. The attached is how I’d approach the roots. The white line being the cut point. The red lines appear to be roots you have growing. Roots could be cut back further but you need to figure where as you have the roots in front of you.
Root pruning may require certain timing. Rely on species experts to comment more. I’m not a juniper expert. What I show in the attachment is most how I prune all roots.
Understanding that you just planted this I would let the tree recover and grow this season…no more fiddling with roots.
Tieball
Masterpiece
You will help responders by adding your location to your profile.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
It all depends what you want the roots to look like and how big the pot you think it will go into. We have a tendency to allow long roots to develop then find they are way too long to fit into the pot we choose for the tree. I find it is way better to cut roots earlier to promote more closer feeders and better root ramification which looks better than just a few thick stovepipe roots.
Finer roots to collect nutrients is only part of it. Aesthetics - how it looks is just as important but in this case the 2 needs coincide.
How long is a piece of string?
@Tieball virt is a great representation of what to look for when shortening roots. I find that most trees are able to send out new roots from the cut ends after root pruning. In my experience more than 90% of new roots grow direct from the cut ends. Only a few emerge back along the root. This is very similar to what happens after branches are pruned above ground.
That means we need to chop the roots where we want those roots to divide. Usually that's way shorter than most newbies are comfortable with but if there's already some smaller side roots that makes it a bit easier to do the chops.
If you like the look of long roots you should keep them but just try to imagine what sized bonsai pot this tree might go into. Measure the size and then transfer that to the existing root ball and see how it looks then.
Like branches, roots usually only get longer so when pruning look to the future and cut shorter to allow some space for the new roots to grow.
Tieball
Masterpiece
Excellent thorough and helpful reply.
I’m comfortable with drastic root pruning on my deciduous trees. I was not sure of Juniper drastic root pruning. I was not sure if a Juniper responded with roots from the root-cut like a deciduous tree.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
The root response is similar but takes longer and maybe more effort so we can't chop all the roots at once. In this case there's lots of other feeders to support the tree while it slowly gets round to making the effort. In a few years when the thicker roots have plenty of feeders some of the other roots can be reduced.
I can't guarantee that every root that's chopped will keep growing but trees do want to live. They don't give up easy so most will try their hardest to recover.
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