Rejuvenate Pot Bound Plants

In this video I show you how I breathe new life into pot bound trees by pruning their roots.
Root pruning is a great way to rejuvenate pot bound plants. As we enter into winter now is a great time for root pruning trees in pots.
We look at:
- how to prepare your tree for root pruning
- how to use a bow saw or carpentry saw to prune the roots of you tree
- how to prepare the soil before returning the tree to the pot
#Gardening #Horticulture #TomAttwood

[@jillal-fuhaid1763]

Thank you so much . I have conocarpus plants in pots on my roof, the poor things aren’t doing well of late. Now I am sure after watching this video, I will give them a new lease of life. Thanks again.

[@helensale50]

I love this. Its so helpful and never really knew you could be so brutal. I have 3 trees in pots and they all need this treatment so thanks for another brilliant video!

[@TomAttwood]

Thanks Helen! it's amazing what you can get away with in gardening sometimes. I always remember the first time I saw it being done I didn't believe you could do it and the plant could survive such an ordeal.....!

[@Earthy-Artist]

Great tips! I've got 4 shrubs which have been in pots for 10 years which I want to transplant into the ground. They are of course root bound. I'm going to try your technique & hopefully it will also work for transplanting into the ground too! Thanks!

[@junetriggs3829]

Thank you! I went through so many videos. Yours was exactly what I needed know 😃

[@TomAttwood]

Thanks June 😊 need to get working on some new ones!?

[@riam5429]

Great idea

[@KuwNova]

I think if you cut slightly or loosing the soil around not only in bottom will be more great for tree

[@vin.handle]

I have some dwarf crape myrtles that I want to keep 4' in length in large pots. Do I need to root prune if the tree roots don't wind up touching the pot?

[@sijojohn980]

Good video .what is the intervel for the root pruning,yearly or after 2/3 year ?

[@lauras773]

Very informative. I have a loquat tree that is root bound and in desperate need of this. Now I know how to do it! Curious. Why didn't you plant into a bigger planter?

[@TomAttwood]

Good question, primarily because there are 7 trees all the same size and I don't have 7 larger containers to move up into but eventually it'll have to happen!

[@hanafri8]

Can you do that with a potted Phoenix Roebelenii palm too?

[@TomAttwood]

Provided it has a good strong root system I don't see why you couldn't

[@timshel011]

What time of year do you recommend?

[@reallycantdrive3936]

Thanks for this great video. Many videos take a quarter off the sides as well as the bottom. Do you recommend this? And do you normally root prune in December (UK)?

[@zeez9053]

That’s what I’ll be doing

[@TomAttwood]

You certainly could, yes to December 👍

[@angiecole3164]

Very good video thankyou. I have an Olive tree in a pot about 2.5 ft tall it seems very bound, what should I do? Also can I do this to a bay tree?

[@TomAttwood]

Thanks for the feedback 😊olives in the whole can grow happily for many years in a pot bound state if they have adequate feed in the spring and autumn, you can certainly do this to a bay tree 👍

[@grainnejakobson6491]

Thanks that's really helpful

[@TomAttwood]

Thanks Grainne!

[@randomletters1834]

Lmao "for those of you who cant cut a slice of bread straight" he's talking about me.

[@TomAttwood]

and me if I’m completely honest ….

[@dextazy]

Great video! I have an acer palmatum, dwarf lilac tree and a panicle hydrangea that have been growing in pots the same size as your Hawthorne since I planted them 4 years ago. They have developed fantastically, but I think it’s time for some root pruning. Just wondering how regularly you are doing this, and does the tree cope fine the following season or do you need to cut back some foliage as well?

[@TomAttwood]

In most cases you don't do it every year but every 2 to 3 years, you shouldn't need to cut back the foliage either, really glad you enjoyed the vid!

[@geriannroth449]

Hi love the technique I'm growing my fruit trees in old washing machine drums with the bottoms cut off so they are open to the ground allowing the roots to extend from the rootball down into the earth to obtain additional nutrients & water & also anchorage into the ground. The numerous holes in the washing machine drum are supposed to promote air root pruning promoting fiberous roots as they hit the air coming through the holes this I understand helps to deter root circling/ boundness. So far the trees are looking good a couple years old I prune the branches periodically & they also produce fruit. Would you still suggest root pruning within the container? I've seen a lady on another youtube channel root pruning abit different to the traditional method like yours maybe I could use that method but I'm not sure. Here is how she root pruned her plants she took a 2" metal pipe It's end was cut diagonally at an angle to allow easier pruning of the roots and removal of the soil within the container. As the pipe is removed holes are left in the container which is then packed with fresh soil for the plants new roots to enjoy. I don't know if I should try this but she swears it works & her plants really looks happy & healthy. I'd really appreciate your feedback on this method of root pruning & if you would recommend doing it for my trees mind you her plants are in containers which are NOT bottomless like mine.

[@TomAttwood]

What a fantastic technique you have! With your method root pruning wouldn't be necessary, I'll have a look to see some of the other methods you mention 😊

[@Phalces]

I wish I had seen this earlier... I was instructed to cut in a circle around the entire rootball and then cut the bottom (as is done in this video) and then loosen the soil and replant with new soil all around. I fear it was a mistake as I did so one week ago but the leaves on the edge of my potted tree are now dry and curling up despite frequent watering. Did I screw up?

[@captainsalmonslayer]

Plants can go into shock after messing with their roots. I always prune back potted trees heavily when doing anything with roots to reduce the load on the roots and any potential shock.

[@youttt27]

Hi Saw this video today and tried this with my boxwood plant. I hope it survives... Can you do another video on the health of the roots.I recently repotted my palm and was shocked to the white fingus all over the roots.Should I be doing something more than changing the soil?

[@Kylie4Queen]

Hello, how did your boxwood respond to the root pruning? I’ve got two in pots I’d like to try this with. Thx

[@erayapana]

Hello newbie here. Today I planted a fairly large Acacia tree (that was in a 15 gallon pot). I had a feeling the roots looked weird, but planted it anyway. I went on KZbin and sure enough it appears my tree is root bound. Ugh. Should I dig up my tree and unbound the roots asap? Or wait?

[@TomAttwood]

Sorry for the v late reply, depends on the extent of the roots condition, in most cases the roots will sort themselves out especially with a fast growing tree like an Acacia but if things don’t appear to be growing well it’s not too late to dig it up and tackle the roots

[@trueamnisias]

Thank you so much, really clear and informative. I've got a bottlebrush who I've been potting up every other year but it's now the biggest available pot size. I've given it a good pruning this year right after flowering - am I still okay to do the root pruning this autum/winter, or should I wait another year??

[@TomAttwood]

Hi sorry for the slow reply, I'd probably wait and do it in the spring with this particular plant

[@trueamnisias]

@@TomAttwood Thank you for getting back to me, much appreciated! I was in two minds about this as the bottlebrush originates from a warmer climate but has been very hardy for me so far. I'll wait til spring to be on the safe side.

[@Therabithole]

Should you do it in autumn?

[@navaerick86]

Yes, when the tree is dormant.

[@MeRia035]

That doesnt cause it to be vulnurable to pests or disease? I read it was the case with house plants. Did you at least tell the tree sorry?