Video: How to root prune....Ninja style

[F. Bennett Veteran Find all posts View Profile Close F. Bennett]

I made this video yesterday. This is the 9th tree I did and it happened to be the most root bound. I really need to sharpen the machete. I thought it might be useful for others to see the process, as I needed a visual when I first started. Remember, do what works best for you. My method probably isn't the best, nor the safest. Maybe I'll invest in a power saw.

[SarinaP Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SarinaP]

Cool video!

[jmaler Fig Phenom Find all posts View Profile Close jmaler]

Thanks for the video. I will need to root prune several fig trees this year.

What effect does root pruning and pruning the top have on fig production?

[F. Bennett]

It will be reduced by a little, but in the long run will provide more figs opposed to not root pruning.

[IamKriya Member Find all posts View Profile Close IamKriya]

Very cool!

[cjmach1973 Veteran Find all posts View Profile Close cjmach1973]

I know it has to be done, but I still look at the roots chopped off and say how many figs does that eliminate. Kind of like when I prune a branch to make a tree grow better, but then say I can root that branch, and end up with 10 more baby trees at the end of the year that have to go in the cellar. Noce video though.

[F. Bennett Veteran Find all posts View Profile Close F. Bennett]

I know it has to be done, but I still look at the roots chopped off and say how many figs does that eliminate. Kind of like when I prune a branch to make a tree grow better, but then say I can root that branch, and end up with 10 more baby trees at the end of the year that have to go in the cellar. Noce video though.

Yep, I know what you mean. It's the only way I get to keep as many trees, though. It helps that I have at least 2 of each variety.

[DBJohnson Fig Phenom Find all posts View Profile Close DBJohnson]

Excellent video! Thank you!

[F. Bennett]

Thanks Bryant!

[newnandawg Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close newnandawg]

Frank, good job on the video. However, I will stay with my saz-all. LOL

As for a reduction in fig production due to root pruning. Its the old pay me now or
pay me later. Lose a few figs due to pruning or lose a lot due to root bound tree.

[F. Bennett]

I have a feeling I'll be moving up to the saw next year, Mike.
I saw a vid that PA figs posted using a recip saw and it looked so quick and easy to do.

[Rafaelissimmo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rafaelissimmo]

Great video Frank. How often would you prune a tree like that in a 5 gal SIP? Do you use larger SIPS? What's your soil mix?

[F. Bennett]

Thanks Rafael. I had a few that were in the SIP for 2 years and very stunted in 2015. I didn't want to take that chance again with my newer trees, so I may need to do this every year. I will see how this year goes.
I do not use larger SIPs. For now, I am staying with 5 gallon buckets to maintain space for more trees.
My mix consists of Pro-Mix BX w/Mychorrhizae, a handful of Azomite dust, Osmocote slow release fertilizer pellets, and additional perlite.

[Iowafig Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Iowafig]

Nice video thanks for making it.

[fitzski Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close fitzski]

Nice video, Frank. I'm not at the point of root pruning yet. I'm still up-potting some smaller figs to larger pots.

I do have two large figs in 15 gallon containers that need to be root pruned. I think i'll try the saw-zall or tree pruning saw.

[newnandawg Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close newnandawg]

Frank, do you use any other fertilizer in you 5 gal sips other
than the osmocote? If not, how much osmocote do you use?

[71GTO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 71GTO]

Nice video! I have to do this this year myself and I'm not looking forward to it, but I havnt done it in a two years and it's time. I have an old floppy hand saw that I used and it worked well. Bought a saws all last year. I'll try that also.

[newnandawg Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close newnandawg]

I use a Dewalt 18 volt rechargeable and there are a variety of
a blades to choose from. It comes in handy on the 20-25 gal pots.

[F. Bennett Veteran Find all posts View Profile Close F. Bennett]

Frank, do you use any other fertilizer in you 5 gal sips other
than the osmocote? If not, how much osmocote do you use?

No, just Osmocote. I may lightly dilute the rain barrels with miracle gro, but I doubt it's enough to help. I use roughly 2 tablespoons of Osmocote pellets per 5 gallon bucket, mixed in with the potting mix. I also cover the tops of the buckets to prevent rain from flushing out nutrients.

[cis4elk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close cis4elk]

Wow, so violent Frank.
Just kidding, there were tons more roots in that bucket than I thought there would be when you initially showed the un-chopped root ball. Good work putting together the video, it was very clear, informative, and you did a great using the view points to demonstrate the objectives before and after. The text to explain the stages was a nice touch too.

[F. Bennett]

Thanks Calvin!
I too didn't realize how thick the roots were until I removed that bottom cap. It will be interesting to see how they bounce back this year.

[COGardener Fig Phenom Find all posts View Profile Close COGardener]

I'm going to have two root prune the two original figs that Andy gifted me, then I plan to move them from 15 gallon pots up to something in the 25 gallon range.

[Jamie0507 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Jamie0507]

Gotta love your ninja style Frank!!! Lol! That was just awesome! Very nice "how to" tutorial all around, thanks for posting!

[pacifica Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pacifica]

Hi Frank, my friend got an unknown fig tree about 5 years old potted n a large container, he wanted to know if it is OK to root prune right now (now his fig tree is about to wake up from dormant). Once he started root prune as per your video, can he expect to get figs ripen in this year or not ? Thanks..............

[pacifica]

Can he just root prune the bottom part of root ball by 1/3 only but no others ?

[Jamie0507]

I definitely don't have Frank's experience, but I would think that if your friend had the tree in the same pot for 5 years then those roots will be circling the pot. So I'm thinking if that is the case, he would definitely want to do the side slices (as Frank showed us in his ninja style vid😉) into the shape of a square. That would free the up some space for fresh new soil and solve the circling roots issue as well. But please correct me if I'm wrong @F.Bennett.. I would hate to give pacifica "bum gauge" so to speak!

[F. Bennett]

You're right, Jamie. It would definitely help. Even if it's just an inch or so.

[newnandawg Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close newnandawg]

Not Frank, but the rule of thumb is you should prune the top growth
to match what you have in the root ball. That is because you will
now have less root mass to support much more top growth if
you do not.

[pacifica Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pacifica]

A million thanks to all. Good points