RichKid
Shohin
Pulled some of my trees to check the roots and they don't seem to be in need of repotting now. Would it be ok to wait till the fall to repot as they may need it by then?
your trees, unless they are tropicals grown inside, will not get any root growth during the winter.
Uh uh. Roots are doing a lot of growing during the winter -- at least until the pots freeze solid and stay that way.
Uh uh. Roots are doing a lot of growing during the winter -- at least until the pots freeze solid and stay that way.
Ed,
Studies are not always accurate. Be it roots, soil sizes, etc.
Real life showed me they grow roots during winter. BTW, Most landscapers and arborist here plant during fall for that reason.
Dario, multiple studies and overall consensus determines that a dormant tree does not grow roots. As for your trees that "showed me they grow roots during winter." you do realize that you are in Texas with no real winter and the OP lives in PA. with real hard winters ? There is a major difference in weather zones, where you get cold snaps he has winter set in for months and trees going fully dormant. This guy is new in this and asking for advice, its better not to give half-assed advice or an unsubstantiated opinion which may lead to killing his tree just to raise a post count.
This is the same reason that many tree species that require a dormancy period will wither away and slowly die in your area (Texas), the same reason why most fruit trees he could grow and produce fruits on will not set fruits in your area at all becase they require cold periods to be able to set fruits. Gala Apple trees for example require between 600-800 continuous chill hours below 35 degrees to be able to set fruit. Thats aint happening in your area as far as I know. This happens every winter in Pennsylvania.
Oh and another thing, Fall is not winter my friend, and the reason most landscapers plant in the fall is that plants slow down preparing for their winter rest and are less likely to suffer setback from planting, need less water and are less prone to harm from drying out as they would if planted in the heat of summer.
BTW, an Arborist also commonly known as a tree surgeon generally study and diagnose trees and are not landscapers or lawn and garden men. Arborists go to college to first become qualified then they have to be Certified, then they choose there path as either a Municipal Specialist, Utility Specialist or Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA). Not the guys who plants shrubery in your neighbors yard.
ed
Ed,... just to raise a post count.
Pulled some of my trees to check the roots and they don't seem to be in need of repotting now. Would it be ok to wait till the fall to repot as they may need it by then?
I'd like to add some observation here in Austin.
I collected several cedar elm and leave them outside year round. Next to my yard are several big ground cedar elms. They basically are in same light/temperature setting but noticed that the potted trees wake up much earlier than the ground trees. I expect the reverse since ground is warmer so I am totally surprised. This is the 3rd year I observed this btw. The ones I just collected also re-sprouted much sooner than the ground trees during my very first year. I thought it was a fluke because of the root disturbance and pruning. Well same trees did the same thing 2 years after.
I'd be interested to hear input (explanation, theory, etc.) about this.
Thanks!