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Planting Containerized Trees - Best Way to Break Up Circled Roots

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Putting some potted trees in-ground tomorrow, and I've seen a couple approaches about preventing girdling: 1) making 4-8 slices from the top to the bottom of the rootball all the way around, and 2) shaving an inch or two of the rootball's edges off.

Is one better than the other? I've got a couple inches of rain coming through on Thursday, so I'd like to get rid of circled roots but am also a little wary of damaging a ton of roots right before they get a nice warm welcome of drenched soil. Don't want any root rot right off the bat.

Any thoughts about the two techniques?

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Comments (3)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Depending on the size and manageability, I soak them and try to remove the potting material and then untangle the roots.

tj
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
be helpful to know.. what trees ... what size.. location.. soil type.. etc ...

ken
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0plantqueen0
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
They're dogwoods--two years old and about 2 and a half feet. They're in very small containers (looks like only about a 1x1 foot plastic pot) so I'm thinking they'll be pretty badly rootbound. The site has loamy clay topsoil but heavy clay up underneath, so I'll be planting high to help with drainage at first.

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