Preparing Plants to be Transplanted - Root Pruning - Five Minute Friday

[@Garricher5958]

Very timely Jim. Thank you to you and Stephanie!!!

[@Jgturn11]

I love 5 minute Fridays because they are actually 10 minutes long!

[@sammysworld5485]

Hi Jim. Here in my zone 7b, I do all my transplanting in early Spring. I have one of those narrow trenching shovels & it makes life so much easier… yes it’s a gardener’s best friend. ❤😅

[@jennifergreene8891]

Great info. Thank you for sharing this with us. 😊

[@myredrose45]

Those root slayer shovels are pretty heavy, I like the idea of the trench shovel. Thanks Jim.

[@CynLynRin]

I love LOVE my Root Slayer! Not just for the cutting, but for the pry bar. How many time had I tried to dig something up only have to back off from prying it up because I was afraid of breaking the shaft. No more.

[@heatherw.2751]

Do perennials need to be root pruned in preparation for moving in the spring as well?

[@reneelarson2220]

Another great, informative video. Thanks! I cannot overstate how much the Root Slayer changed my mind about doing ANY gardening in my GA clay. Trying to get a regular spade or even a small auger into my ground is literally like trying to dig a hole in brick. The Root Slayer (and some moisture) is the only way I am able to dig an adequate size hole to amend and plant...well, anything. This tool was a game changer for me, and it will be for others. Thank you for sharing your insight and experience.

[@8helenjhouston8]

I have sandy soil and it is also my go to shovel - I honestly don’t use anything else now. Very useful for cutting through roots of old established trees!

[@ericjorgensen8028]

Gotta do this on about 10 small/young trees to create a small orchard. Perfect timing 👍

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

The Root Slayer sounds like a ‘must have’ for a serious (I.e.addicted) gardener.

[@MickF04]

We have a sighting of the newer trenching shovel! LOL! Seriously, I purchased that exact trenching shovel a year ago, and it is one of my two favorite shovels, the other being a D-handle digging shovel.

[@stephaniesharkey3538]

Thx- great timing!

[@rogerpruitt2097]

Is there a rule of thumb on how big of a circle to make when root pruning?

[@araucariasightings3247]

I planted an araucaria bidwillii outside my house where I wonder if it is going to get too large for the space. I keep going back and forth on moving it because it looks so happy and is growing all the time. But at the same time I am also wondering if things don't work out when it gets large I will have to cut it down so I keep going back and forth and it is driving me crazy.

[@kso808]

Interesting observation about your older trench shovel being able to cut through roots!

[@ROlson-dx2jc]

Perfect timing Jim! I have a deciduous Golden Chain Tree in a large container. It is in dire need of root pruning and refreshing the soil. Is January or February a good time to do this? I am in Zone 9a PNW. Thank you 😊

[@قناةطبخالمغربيالاصيل]

مشيرة موفقةحفظك الاه ورعاك 💚💚💚👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🎈🎈🎈⚘️⚘️☕️☕️☕️

[@Anirra-in-Z3b-4a]

Looks like a Smith is needed to take that point off. I have learned there's nothing wrong with breaking a brand new thing to make it perfect for you.

[@kerrypeddle6415]

Jim, I’m needing to transplant 2 conifers. Can you elaborate on conifer transplanting sometime soon?

[@addievines1902]

Great content, as usual. I have an arborvitae tree planted about 3 feet from my house in the back yard. This tree has grown from a three feet tall, small tree to now over 7 feet tall. This tree is about six years old, and I have always loved the fact that it is a beautiful green. However, this year's fall/winter thus far, it's browning from the inside quite a lot. I don't recall my arborvitae ever browning to this degree before. I would like to move it to the back of my yard quite aways from where it is now where it would have more room but am extremely nervous that I may lose it because of the significant browning. I will say that I am sheet mulching in the area right around where it currently is, I have considered the idea that perhaps the cardboard is killing the roots of my tree. Would you, if in this situation move the tree while it is browning so severely in the middle of the tree and the bottom of the tree? Would you recommend root pruning as a possibility? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[@KateMaureen14]

Sounds like it needs to be moved and isn't doing well in the spot it's in. There's a chance of losing it either way, so you may as well move it where it might do better.

[@debandrews7415]

exceelent

[@brutusadmirer8043]

Did I miss a mention of the hope of generating internal root growth? I have root pruned a sizeable J. maple, root pruning 2/3 around the circumference in early spring and then transplanting 6 months later in late fall with good success. I had a lot more clay, rather than that $100 soil you are working with. The more rangy the root structure of what you are trying to move, the more root pruning is needed. (Totally unnecessary for something like an azalea with its compact roots.)

[@phenpier82]

I need to transplant a lace leaf Japanese Maple in middle GA. Would this technique be recommended for moving a 20 year old 5 foot weeping Japanese maple?

[@Flower_hoarder]

🪴🌳