Cutting the tap root of a small plum tree grown in a box

[john west]

Planted a Victoria plum tree some time ago in a black plastic recycle box.
Its been growing really well. when i came to move it (i put it in the
box because i knew i would move it) i found a long tap root (about a
finger thick) had escaped from the box into the soil below.

I cannot get this root out of the ground without breaking it.

Would this result in serious damage to the little plum tree or would it
recover from this? Thanks.

[David]

Post by john west
Planted a Victoria plum tree some time ago in a black plastic recycle box.
Its been growing really well. when i came to move it (i put it in the
box because i knew i would move it) i found a long tap root (about a
finger thick) had escaped from the box into the soil below.
I cannot get this root out of the ground without breaking it.
Would this result in serious damage to the little plum tree or would it
recover from this? Thanks.

It might be more sensible to wait until winter if you can, when the tree
is dormant.

Do you just intend to move the box but keep the tree in it?

Cheers


Dave R

[Phil L]

Post by john west
Planted a Victoria plum tree some time ago in a black plastic recycle
box. Its been growing really well. when i came to move it (i put it
in the box because i knew i would move it) i found a long tap root (about
a
finger thick) had escaped from the box into the soil below.
I cannot get this root out of the ground without breaking it.
Would this result in serious damage to the little plum tree or would
it recover from this? Thanks.

If it were mine, I'd cut the plastic box into pieces in situ and shake off
as much of the soil, then carefully dig down to free the tap root saving as
much as possible before re-planting.

[john west]

Post by Phil L

Post by john west
Planted a Victoria plum tree some time ago in a black plastic recycle
box. Its been growing really well. when i came to move it (i put it
in the box because i knew i would move it) i found a long tap root (about
a
finger thick) had escaped from the box into the soil below.
I cannot get this root out of the ground without breaking it.
Would this result in serious damage to the little plum tree or would
it recover from this? Thanks.

If it were mine, I'd cut the plastic box into pieces in situ and shake off
as much of the soil, then carefully dig down to free the tap root saving as
much as possible before re-planting.

thanks. i always believed roots were active in winter and foliage in
the summer?

i can try dig out the tap root in the soil (as it traveled sideways away
from the box ).

guess its either make or break with this tap root.

[David]

Post by john west

Post by Phil L

Post by john west
Planted a Victoria plum tree some time ago in a black plastic recycle
box. Its been growing really well. when i came to move it (i put it in
the box because i knew i would move it) i found a long tap root (about
a
finger thick) had escaped from the box into the soil below.
I cannot get this root out of the ground without breaking it.
Would this result in serious damage to the little plum tree or would
it recover from this? Thanks.

If it were mine, I'd cut the plastic box into pieces in situ and shake
off as much of the soil, then carefully dig down to free the tap root
saving as much as possible before re-planting.

thanks. i always believed roots were active in winter and foliage in
the summer?
i can try dig out the tap root in the soil (as it traveled sideways away
from the box ).
guess its either make or break with this tap root.

Remember that when the foliage is active it needs water, which it gets
from the roots.

Treat this like moving any fruit tree; do it over winter when the tree is
dormant.

For example:

<https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=293>


"The optimum time to move established trees or shrubs depends on their
type;

Deciduous plants: Move at any time during the dormant season from late
October to mid-March".

Messing about with the roots of a tree in full summer during a mini-
heatwave is not likely to turn out well.

If you have to move the container grown tree then cut the root and move
the box and water more than usual - it will be relying on the tap root and
may not have enough roots in the container to satisfy its' water needs
especially in this weather.

Cutting the tap root AND messing about with the remaining roots in the
container at the same time is unlikely to end well.

Cheers


Dave R

[Charlie Pridham]

Post by john west

Post by Phil L

Post by john west
Planted a Victoria plum tree some time ago in a black plastic recycle
box. Its been growing really well. when i came to move it (i put it
in the box because i knew i would move it) i found a long tap root (about
a
finger thick) had escaped from the box into the soil below.
I cannot get this root out of the ground without breaking it.
Would this result in serious damage to the little plum tree or would
it recover from this? Thanks.

If it were mine, I'd cut the plastic box into pieces in situ and shake off
as much of the soil, then carefully dig down to free the tap root saving as
much as possible before re-planting.

thanks. i always believed roots were active in winter and foliage in
the summer?
i can try dig out the tap root in the soil (as it traveled sideways away
from the box ).
guess its either make or break with this tap root.

Your main problem is not damaging the tree (although I would wait until
its dormant) but any damage to the roots and that includes deliberate
cutting will give masses of unwanted suckers, plums are prone to do that
anyway so it may not make a huge difference long term!