where are you ... big city name.. is it proper planting season .. what is the current weather ....

except to hold the seed to the ground.. at original emergence.. a tap root is just another root.. period..

there is nothing special about it otherwise. ..

with out a pic.. its hard to opine.. but i would have probably cut it before the bend.. and i would have went to town on all the other roots.. major root surgery as we might call it ...

i would have no qualms about doing this.. because i would have planted it once the tree went dormant.. so i wouldnt worry about 'saving' the leaves ...

tell us where you are.. and then hold tight.. i might recommend you dig it back up.. and do it right.. but only at the right time of year.. which might be a few weeks away... where you might be ... see section one at link below ..

below is a pic of a 6 foot cherry tree i moved.. note what i did to the roots.. and note. that was perfect spring timing for my ground freeze MI ... root surgery is not that big of a deal.. done with perfect timing ....

ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

It's mid September. A very suitable planting time for 80-90% of the country!! Plant away!! And I also have no concerns about cutting or removing the tap root as necessary. It is surplus to requirements at this stage :-))

I have a redbud that I got a a plant swap. I procrastinated and did not plant. I have it on a gravel drive and it rooted itself. Now I need to try to dig up and move.

Thanks for the quick response all. Good to see you're still Active Ken! Long time listener, first time caller! I know it's a bit early here Northern New Jersey, we're now a zone 7a, but we used to be 6b, but temps are OK, but not dormant yet. Nights in the 50-60s and daytime in the 70-80. But selection at the nurseries is dwindling, only two Flame thrower redbuds in the nurseries left, so had to jump on it.

You can see the root flare has been exposed, and it was planted in mostly pine bark + pebbles/rocks (for weight, annoying). I teased out the roots, and the flare/graft is exposed, and I will make sure it gets some water if it hit 80*, but mostly it's in the 60-70s daytime temps. I outlined where the root is going, you can imagine it was tucked under itself. The root curves about 6" from the trunk, where it hit the pot and turned down. Since it's a redbud, and a cross between rising sun and ruby falls, neither of which get large, I can't imagine the trunk ever getting out to that root? But that's kind of the question. In it's current position, it's just buried where it is, but the end is pointing away.

For planting, I've read quite a bit, even have the USDA manual! I dug about a 6' diameter hole, broke up the ground, planted under the top sod and filled back with native soil, tamping down as I went. Mulched around the ring, but not covering the flare.

I don't have the deer fence tied down, it's just floppy, do you pin that down or anything? It's rut season here and last year they were brutal!

Thanks!