Gardener Guide to Transplanting: Root Pruning

Pruning flowers from a stem is much like pruning roots of plant or tree is non-the-less important to the success while transplanting. Many gardeners are not familiar with this task, as it is a little tedious although can change the entire appearance of the plant or tree. When left un-pruned, the roots will continue to grow in an outward direction and away from the entire plant. It does not affect the plant in anyway, until the moment you decide to transplant the plant or plant around it.

There is an easy solution though, prune the roots one year before you plan to transplant it. If not planning ahead, a tree can be pruned around three to four months before with about the same amount of effect and success. One year is suggested though to assure that the plant or tree has successfully lived without the extensions being attached. Or, prune the roots every three to five years if planning on planting near the other plant or tree. It is important to give the plant or tree some time though to assure the plant can successfully live without the extended root system before moving. Transplanting can be a little stressful; therefore it is important to give the plant or tree a little time before doing so.

Many gardening centers use this practice of pruning when they plan on selling a new tree or plant. When purchasing a burlap covered plant or tree ball root, you are seeing an aftereffect of root pruning. To prune, one will need a spade or shovel. Thrust the spade or shovel into the ground with great force. The distance from the plant that you should prune will be determined by the width that you are considering digging the plant or tree up. This pruning should always be done during the dormancy stage of a plant since you will be severing the roots.

This process of pruning the roots will assist in making the root system shorter. By cutting the long root system it will force the roots to start the process of replacing the lost roots. These new root extensions will be much shorter and closer to the base of the plant or tree. Hence, the pruned plant or tree base will be stockier and stronger closer to the base when transplanting the next year. When transplanting then, the plant or tree will contain more roots near the base that can be moved alongside it and will have a better change of living.

In addition to being pruned for transplanting, the roots can be pruned to help a plant that looks a little sparse or sickly. Pruning the roots will cut off the long root extensions and will allow the plant to grow new smaller fibrous roots. Fibrous roots have a greater ability to get water and nutrients from the soil. Thus, this will assist in reviving those sickly plants and trees.

Although root pruning is not well-known is can help those sick plants and trees and can assist in transplanting the next year. It is an easy task and takes less than ten minutes for most plants and trees. It is easier and more efficient than purchasing expensive repair aids from the gardening center that may or may not work. It is a hidden secret that every gardener should be aware of today.