How do you tackle tangled surface roots on a nursery bought pine?

[Vance Wood]

I've just completed my second repotting intensive at Boon's. Boon posted on Facebook a tree I was repotting that had been half barerooted the previous year. This year I did the other half.

It was in an Anderson pot. Last year, it was lifted from the flat, and the roots were barerooted by washing them out with a gentle stream of water. Then replaced into the flat and potted up with Boon Mix soil. The roots weren't worked.

This year, I barerooted the other half, and reduced the rootball to pot into a bonsai container.

When I lifted the tree from the Anderson pot, the difference in the two halfs was remarkable! The half that was in Boon mix was white with mychorazzae, which is a good thing. Full of healthy feeder roots. The half with old soil was brown, mushy, and compacted.

I'd post a pic, but I'm posting on my iPhone from the airport, but you can find it on Boon's Facebook page.

A good example of developing a root system methodically.

 

[Vance Wood]

I just reread this entire thread:

Geeze---I didn't realize how much the passing of my mother-in-law had impacted me. I really loved the old gal and kind of took out my anger out on some of you. For this I apologize.

 

[Paradox]

I just reread this entire thread:

Geeze---I didn't realize how much the passing of my mother-in-law had impacted me. I really loved the old gal and kind of took out my anger out on some of you. For this I apologize.

Stress can have this impact. Cherish her memory and consider yourself fortunate to have had a good relaionship with the dreaded "monster-in-law".