I'd depot it, cut off the bottom 1/4 of the root mass, cut some deep vertical slits in the remaining root mass (with a utility knife or equal) and pot up temporarily until spring. I'm guessing you might have some difficulty getting it out of the pot.

Al

Thanks Al,

Yes I think I may have to break the pot to remove the poor tree.
Do you think I should remove the fruit before repotting or is this not a factor?

Thanks again,
Dom

It sort of depends on how much of the root system you delete when you prune. I think I'd bite the bullet on my first root pruning & remove the fruit to ensure a faster recovery. Blooms and fruit are a plant's strongest energy sinks, so other organs will get short shrift insofar as energy allocation is concerned when the plant is blooming/fruiting. The pecking order of energy sinks is flowers - fruits - leaves - stems - roots. I even debloom and disbud the flowering plants that go into my mixed display containers to ensure faster root establishment.

Al

Thanks so much for your help Al. Reading this and your other posts has given me the confidence to give root pruning a go :D

Thanks again,
Dom

Good deal! At least 95% of the hobby growers out there have no inkling of how necessary root maintenance is to good health. You'll be glad for including it as part of your routine.

Al