Regarding mid summer (emergency) repot.

[Bad_Bonsai]

Hello,

I've a problem with this spruce tree pictured herein, this photo is from a few weeks ago for a series I'm doing—I don't have any good brighter ones at the moment, apologies. What's pertinent here is the soil, today I cleaned up the base a bit—sap, gunk, moss, etc.

I noticed that water wasn't percolating anymore, it was pooling, and though it was eventually passing through the root ball, it was certainly not flowing well and I'm afraid there may be an oxygen problem around the corner.

I have pot selected for it and I plan to do the repot in early fall.

Should I do the repot early to avoid the overwatering risk?

It's mid summer in 5B and it's hot out. I do have modular shade structures. (wood polls with varying degrees of mesh)

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

No, just aerate the root ball with a piece of rebar and wait until spring. The tree needs good air circulation and likely more sun than where it is to be healthy, especially up in your zone.