Large root ball and burlap

[Jrmcmich]

Picked up a large trunk with massive rootball. Wondering anything I can do this fall to reduce or just plant in ground for spring root reduction? Very heavy so hoping I can reduce significantly next spring. It’s a Hinoki got on clearance since some die back browning in some areas but hopeful to just clean up dead stuff and keep alive to start something next year. Tried to pick out dead foliage tonight.

Thoughts on reducing or how much next spring? Tree in wheelbarrow for size of rootball

 

[Eckhoffw]

Picked up a large trunk with massive rootball. Wondering anything I can do this fall to reduce or just plant in ground for spring root reduction? Very heavy so hoping I can reduce significantly next spring. It’s a Hinoki got on clearance since some die back browning in some areas but hopeful to just clean up dead stuff and keep alive to start something next year. Tried to pick out dead foliage tonight.

Thoughts on reducing or how much next spring? Tree in wheelbarrow for size of rootball
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Nice.
Yeah, i’d plant that in the ground immediately. Perhaps in two years you could dig ikt up, work on the roots/rootball, then plant in a Anderson flat or a comparable box.
I like to heel newly collected plants into the ground, while in their first container.

Good luck.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Nice.
Yeah, i’d plant that in the ground immediately. Perhaps in two years you could dig ikt up, work on the roots/rootball, then plant in a Anderson flat or a comparable box.
I like to heel newly collected plants into the ground, while in their first container.

Good luck.

Would you remove burlap?

 

[Eckhoffw]

Would you remove burlap?

Yes. Before planting I’d remove burlap and rake out any soil you can without disturbing the roots.

 

[leatherback]

considering how many roots have growth through the burlap, I would not worry too much about repotting. In my climate would do it now myself, and plant in a large container for the first few years as developing. I would make sure it remains frost-free for the next 6-8 weeks and it should be fine. But that is here, where temps have dropped and we are predicted see rain every other day untill we enter into real fall when it rains pretty much all the time.

 

[Jrmcmich]

considering how many roots have growth through the burlap, I would not worry too much about repotting. In my climate would do it now myself, and plant in a large container for the first few years as developing. I would make sure it remains frost-free for the next 6-8 weeks and it should be fine. But that is here, where temps have dropped and we are predicted see rain every other day untill we enter into real fall when it rains pretty much all the time.

Would you remove any soil and try to replace with known soil?

 

[leatherback]

Would you remove any soil and try to replace with known soil?

absolutely; that is the whole point of repotting. Else you could just drop it in a container and add a bag of compost and be done.
Right now the tree is strong, loads of young roots by the looks of it (so not freshly dug, but gug earlier, burlapped and sunk into the ground at the nursery, then been there for a year). I would do a full combining out and planting in a growing out container in good substrate.

But I am a kamikaze repotter.

 

[Jrmcmich]

absolutely; that is the whole point of repotting. Else you could just drop it in a container and add a bag of compost and be done.
Right now the tree is strong, loads of young roots by the looks of it (so not freshly dug, but gug earlier, burlapped and sunk into the ground at the nursery, then been there for a year). I would do a full combining out and planting in a growing out container in good substrate.

But I am a kamikaze repotter.

Haha yeah will check out your video. I’ve only done spring which is why I was Asking that. Would you do less root reducing in fall?

 

[leatherback]

Haha yeah will check out your video. I’ve only done spring which is why I was Asking that. Would you do less root reducing in fall?

I do a repot as I would in spring. Exception might be for the very early stages of rootball development where you might go all extreme removing 95% of the rootmass. But.. Temps are low now and humidity is high, where I live.

 

[Dav4]

If I were going to work this one, I'd definitely remove some of the clay now... it'll be there in 2 years so . Maybe remove 1/3 of the clay from one side using a hose and chop sticks, but I'd be reluctant to remove more as the process of de-claying a root ball is pretty traumatic. I'd also prefer to containerize now instead of placing in the ground, as it'll be easier to continue working on both the canopy and root ball next year and after. Lots of mulch over the pot this winter and you'll be good.

 

[Jrmcmich]

If I were going to work this one, I'd definitely remove some of the clay now... it'll be there in 2 years so . Maybe remove 1/3 of the clay from one side using a hose and chop sticks, but I'd be reluctant to remove more as the process of de-claying a root ball is pretty traumatic. I'd also prefer to containerize now instead of placing in the ground, as it'll be easier to continue working on both the canopy and root ball next year and after. Lots of mulch over the pot this winter and you'll be good.

So I’ve seen doing half root ball on conifers at a time and spreading that out over couple years. Is there a reason you mentioned 1/3 or just to keep stress down? Also on other 1/2 - 2/3 would you do no root disturbances?

 

[Dav4]

So I’ve seen doing half root ball on conifers at a time and spreading that out over couple years. Is there a reason you mentioned 1/3 or just to keep stress down? Also on other 1/2 - 2/3 would you do no root disturbances?

I guess it's the timing of the root work that warrants caution imo. We're approaching the end of the growing season... my typical first frost here in SE MI is in 5-6 weeks (though we might be falling into the 30's F this week), and I'll bet yours is about the same. If it were spring, I'd go ahead with a 1/2 bare root, and I suppose you could always hold off on any root work until next spring. I don't have any experience aggressively working roots this time of year, and I have worked B and B material before and it's brutal.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Probably similar weather but 10 day lowest is 46 for me. I do like idea of trying to do some work. It’s so heavy with that current soil. So doing say 1/3 up to 1/2 would you wait multiple years before working other area of roots? I am More comfortable with deciduous vs conifer and only conifers I’ve done are fairly small so was able to do all in one go when repotting

 

[Dav4]

Probably similar weather but 10 day lowest is 46 for me. I do like idea of trying to do some work. It’s so heavy with that current soil. So doing say 1/3 up to 1/2 would you wait multiple years before working other area of roots? I am More comfortable with deciduous vs conifer and only conifers I’ve done are fairly small so was able to do all in one go when repotting

I'd wait 2 years between root sessions if you remove > 1/4 of the clay.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Well repotted this and there was a lot of clay below so took out more soil then I planned. Hoping for the best. Made wooden box 22 x 22 x 8” deep

 

[leatherback]

Just half of the rootball right?

Key is now to ensure you do not put it in the wind and wet the foliage in the evening and morning a little so it can take up moisture there if needed. (Counter intuitive for many: do not soak the roots in the process, best to keep that on the dry side rather than on the wet side of things.)

Looking at the muck it was growing in it should be quite happy with well aerateed substrate and resond well

 

[Jrmcmich]

Just half of the rootball right?

Key is now to ensure you do not put it in the wind and wet the foliage in the evening and morning a little so it can take up moisture there if needed. (Counter intuitive for many: do not soak the roots in the process, best to keep that on the dry side rather than on the wet side of things.)

Looking at the muck it was growing in it should be quite happy with well aerateed substrate and resond well

Probably did more than half with how bad that soil looked. I tried To not do anything at very center near base but
I have been misting as you mentioned as well as assumed that could help so glad to hear that’s not a bad idea

 

[Eckhoffw]

Probably did more than half with how bad that soil looked. I tried To not do anything at very center near base but
I have been misting as you mentioned as well as assumed that could help so glad to hear that’s not a bad idea

Nice work, and a mighty fine looking tree.

I hope it responds well for you.
To error on the side of caution, I would still dig a hole and heal this box into the ground for the winter. Mulching in is good, but the warmer, protective earth is better. IMHO.
Cheap insurance.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Nice work, and a mighty fine looking tree.

I hope it responds well for you.
To error on the side of caution, I would still dig a hole and heal this box into the ground for the winter. Mulching in is good, but the warmer, protective earth is better. IMHO.
Cheap insurance.

Good idea. Will need to see where I can Put this for winter. Definitely won’t fit in my cold frame