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Untangling Root-Bound Container Trees Before Planting

Wash soil off root balls with a strong water stream. Use a sturdy trowel to tease apart circling roots—clip any that girdle the trunk base. Dig a 6-foot diameter planting area, plant at original depth, spread roots, and backfill. Stake with a 6-foot stake 1 foot from trunk, using cloth strips or bicycle inner tube for flexible attachment.

About Gardening: Dealing with Tree Roots in the Lawn: Removal and Prevention; Tree Roots Lifting Pavers: Switch to Gravel or Raise Patio; Neighbor's Podocarpus Roots Damaging Pool & Patio: Root Barrier or Remove Trees; Protecting Tree Roots During Sewer Line Installation; Vinegar and Salt Near Tree Roots: Risks and Ant Ecology; Apple Tree Roots and Pool Wall Safety; Diagnosing Two Problem Trees: Borer and Canker; Magnolia Surface Roots: Don't Bury, Plant Understory; Surface Roots on Honeylocust: Normal Aging, Not a Threat; Best Indoor Trees for a Warm Greenhouse in New York

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