Boxwood Roots and Nebari

[Grok42]

I have a question about root pruning and nebari on Boxwoods. I've tried to find detailed information and I have for other plants but not Boxwoods specifically. The question came about as I was bare rooting a small 2.5L which is one of 6 boxwoods I just acquired. It has 3 very good nebari but they are all on one side with a large portion of the turn with nothing. How do I go about encouraging development?

My other question with boxwoods is that the roots tend to grow on any portion below the soil. As I'm bare rooting the tree I tend to trim the roots down to reveal a large swell below the soil line from the pot that I think looks like a more mature trunk base. How far down can I remove roots without causing problems?

Finally, should I remove all large roots from the root mass? For example, the largest root in the right side of the picture? Anything else I should keep in mind?

 

[Grok42]

P.S. - I know that I have some terrible reverse taper in this picture. I was in a rush and didn't exactly get the front of the tree. My other problem is that I've ordered some concave cutters but they haven't arrived yet. This is really just a trunk and the top is so it will survive until spring.

 

[Poink88]

I'd give it a bit more soil (maybe an inch or 2) and cover the base if you want to develop more roots.

Come spring, reduce the branches coming from the trunk at almost same place down to 2. If not, the reverse taper will get worse.

Good luck!