When you initially dg for the root base on new nursery stock junipers, do you cut the roots that show up attached to the trunk that are above the sought after root base? Kind of like aerial roots, for lack of a better term?
dg = dig? If they're not part of the plan sure. The more work on top of the nebari, maybe a little less below I would recommend.
Also, I do more work underneath than on top, which limits the amount of dead roots left behind when working above.
3/8 maybe 1/2" trunks on procumbens tolerate bare rooting. So that would be a good approach to this problem of
leaving behind dead roots to rot as you could remove the most of them at the bare rooting.
If I cut roots above leaving the remainder below to rot, I would want to repot in 2 years instead of 3 or 4.
2 year repots may slow styling as you're constantly balancing vigour and work. Annual repots are not going to happen
with my juniper.
When you cut a root above nebari do you know how much roots are associated with it, and can you remove those roots?
Starting with younger material is always a good idea. Older nursery cans oftentimes have soil added on top of existing roots
which causes these unwanted roots up the trunk. Those roots are fine to remove, and hopefully layered atop the old roots
and more easily layered off as you tease out. It has been many many years since I purchased a 3 gallon juniper.
1 gallon nursery cans offer a better "painters palate", but slender trunks.
