Root Development for beginners.

[Warlock]

I found Nigel's video very informative for a beginner to understand how to work on the roots from the very first step.

I have several trees I will be repotting soon. This was the type of info i needed.
Anyone recommend other videos that discuss the initial root work.?

Took me awhile to find this one. Guess I was searching with bad keywords.

 

[Warlock]

This will be my first root cuts on my 10 free arbor day Bald Cypress.

Are either of the 2 lines close to where I should be cutting?
More or less of a first cut?

 

[ShadyStump]

Who's got two thumbs and no clue?
This guy!

But I don't like the idea of taking off the fine roots, so I'd cut more toward the ends first go. Leave more for now.

 

[LittleDingus]

This will be my first root cuts on my 10 free arbor day Bald Cypress.

Are either of the 2 lines close to where I should be cutting?
More or less of a first cut?
View attachment 353370

Hehe...I bet you get arguments for all three! And probably a few for the in-betweens too

Bare root and shipped, the safe bet is do nothing and let grow a year first.

I like to sneak up root depth...other disagree. If I were to cut, it would be closer to the bottom line on BC. Then either scrape down or trim up...or a little of both...at the next repot which would very likely next year on BC for me (I have 5 about this size I just repotted). More accurately, I would cut just below an existing side root since any tap root nub left below that after the cut isn't much use to the tree anyway. So, on the second from the left, I'd trim a little higher.

Of these 4 I, personally, would only trim the 2nd and 4th from the left and leave the other two alone until next year. Were they mine though, I'd probably be potting them in a community pot to grow out some and so wouldn't bother cutting at all right now. But I would be comfortable cutting #2 and #4 as I suggested.

 

[KiwiPlantGuy]

Hi,
Funny isn’t it to get more than one opinion, and no one is wrong.
I would cut these between the 2 lines. There seems to be this fallacy that when you cut a seedlings roots off it will die or be injured for too long etc.
So if you don’t cut these and let them grow for a couple of years, you then have to cut back almost all the root growth to start getting a flat plane (nebari) of roots.
Start by cutting now, and yes they may be a fraction slow to get going, but you get a better tree.
Seedling vigour can’t be underestimated, and you have the right idea but cutting the tap roots short.
Charles

 

[MrWunderful]

Leave all the roots, and throw a washer or loose wrap of wire right above the highest root. Let grow like crazy, and in a year or two you will have a good shot at an excellent radial nebari.