This is what it looked like before cutting.

Thos is is what I cut off:

You have to watch for the roots to not dry out too much, keep the trees away from wind. Wind does not allow the roots to settle and for the tree to get established. Out of all the stresses that a container tree goes through, wind damage is the worst and takes a long time to recover from (my experience).

I'm have absolutely zero personal experience with root pruning. We talk a lot about it here. Probably because it is such a nerve wracking experience. I personally, always debate, but tend to air on the side of leaving too much with my citrus. (My other plants, I prune with abandon).

In April, I repotting all of my citrus and I found that the two logees citrus I have, had thick roots that were strangling themselves, much like yours. (I watched a logees video where they talk about keeping their citrus in really tiny pots, but clearly there are consequences to that.) I did my best to separate the roots, but didn't prune. I've since done a ton of reading on root pruning and I think it's necessary. Once there trees are healthy again, I'm going to go back and prune the worst of the roots out.

With my little experience, I think you did a pretty good job. Keep us posted on the recovery process. I'm interested to see how long it takes before you see new leave growth.

Sunshine is right, the trees now have no anchor and because 511 is so light, they flop right over. Make sure you wire the roots/truck or use loose stakes. Two months after repotting, mine are mostly stable in their posts. I still have two trees that I use big rocks to support the trunk when it's windy.

Other than staking and bringing them inside, are there any good devices to use to help keep them steady in the wind. I can’t keep bringing them inside and outside.

Use multiple stakes or wire it in like a bonsai. I cannot remember what thread it was, but not too long ago someone posted good info about how to use wires after a repot.

Wind does really affect NEWLY transplanted trees if they are growing in a 5-1-1 medium. Not enough firm support of the base of the trees.

5-1-1 is very acidic (4-5) which is why you add the dolemite lime, to bring the pH up to around 6.5.

Did you add dolemite lime? If you did you probably negated that when you added soil acidifier. If you didn't add lime, your pH is WAY too low!

If Kumquats require acidic soil you should have just used the 5-1-1 with no lime or soil acidifier.

Mblan, when I checked the pH of the 511 with pH meter it read around 7.5. That is why I added the acidifier. Is that wrong? Should I go back and top dress with lime?

Alanna, my water pH is about 6.5. I tested water from the pot and came out pH of about 4.5 with at home test kit and about 6.5 or so with pH meter. I think the 511 mix calls for about 1 tablespoon lime per gallon of 511 mix. Do you think adding 6 tablespoons of lime to each 5 gallon container would be a good start (there is really probably about 4 gallons of soil)? Can I just add to the top and water it in?

Joe - would recommend gradually adding some at a time (versus all at once) since it would not be evenly dispersed throughout the pot like it would have been when originally making the mix. Cultivate some into and below the surface (maybe 1 tbsp) as much as possible and let that soak in and move through with subsequent watering for a week or two and then test - especially since if you add it all at once on top, you could seriously impact those surface roots with the sudden alkalinity.

Jenny is right. You don't want to shock the surface roots. When adding lime to the mix, you're supposed to let it sit in the 511 for two weeks prior to using, in order to allow it to neutralize. Throwing a bunch on top right now probably isn't a great idea. The good news is that the soil acidifer will wash out. I would probably just flush it regularly. Maybe add a small amount to the top at and time and water it or possibly water with some lime dissolved into it. I'm just guessing - I don't actually have experience with this.