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| I recently moved into a new home that has a lovely Japanese maple in seemingly good health on a sloped yard. When I removed the groundcover (non-native English ivy), I discovered that the tree was still in the original pot (mostly) and had developed a significant root system in the soil on the slope. It cannot be moved and seems to be healthy, but I'm concerned about the tree's future health. What can be done? We are considering building a sort of cedar planter box around it, but don't see a way to have a closed bottom that would prevent soil/water from just flowing through and down the slope. Any creative ideas out there? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sat, Jan 26, 13 at 18:51
| i dont understand your words .. any chance at a pic??? first.. if the tree is fine.. all you can possibly do is disturb it.. lets think clearly now.. it has no problem.. and you want to go create problems.. how about i suggest you.. wait for it.. LEAVE IT ALONE!!!! WHICH IS A LONG VERSION OF: IF IT AINT BROKE.. DONT FIX IT.. EH??? now.. if you want a box.. use retaining wall brick .. first brick buried into the hill.. and build up from there.. yes.. you can not build a wood structure above ... for the reasons you mentioned ... but again.. why do you need it.. if the tree is otherwise happy??? ... and changing the soil level..etc.. is change ... things usually die.. when we start loving them to death.. and it seems like you are on the verge of such ... so.. in summation.. my suggestion is to ignore it.. and enjoy it .. yes.. someday it might die.. and it wont be your fault.. because you left it alone.. so have an adult beverage on me.. while you dream up some other heavy labor project.. lol good luck ken
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| What can be done? Impossible to tell with information provided. Pictures required. |
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| Yes, we do need more information, especially how much of the root system is no longer in the pot, for a more certain answer. If you believe the amount of root system growing down into the ground is less than about half of the entire root system, I think you'd be fine with cutting the root and repotting or transplanting to a permanent location. If the tree has been there long enough that the majority of the root system has escaped the pot, there is a chance the tree would not make it. If it were mine, I'd probably try anyway or toss it out. Leaving it in it's current condition doesn't sound like a valid alternative to me. I'd say a significant amount of girdling roots have formed in the pot and the tree will probably choke itself if left alone. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sat, Jan 26, 13 at 20:07
| ok guys.. and how do we get a pic of the roots.. or find out how many roots are out of the pot.. dig it up??? .. to take a pic??? thats why my answer devolved into leaving it alone ... ken |
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| Pull the pot up a little and look at the diameter of the root(s) coming out. Compare that to diameter of trunk. Should give a pretty good idea. Or, I'd just chop it loose and see what my odds were. In other words, my decision on whether to remove it would not be based on how much root was there. Only my decision on whether to toss it, after it was removed, might be impacted. |
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- Posted by toronado3800 Z6 St. Louis (My Page) on Sat, Jan 26, 13 at 21:20
| How about remove as much of the pot as you can while leaving the tree in its current location? |
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| That could work, if leaving it in it current place is desirable. A small berm could be built around the trunk to house the teased-apart and extended root system. The "operation" might require some patients though (to keep from damaging the root, grown down out of the pot, while loosening all the rest of the roots). |
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| They stick them in the little Bonsai pots all the time so they must be able to take the torture with ease. I tried moving a Japanese Maple that was happy where it was, it was dormant when I moved it and it never came back in spring. I wouldn't move it unless you don't care if it dies. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Jan 28, 13 at 7:47
| you know.. we basically got nothing here.. and OP doesnt seem interested.. when i 'saw' this.. i pictured an 8 foot tree growing out the bottom of a one gallon pot;.. leave it alone.. but going back up and reading the facts.. well.. there really arent any .. so who knows ken |
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