ROOT PRUNE FRUIT TREES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 May 1939, Page 9

ROOT PRUNE FRUIT TREES

WHEN LEAVES BEGIN TO FALL. When the colouring of the fruit tree leaves indicates that they are soon to fall, is the time to undertake the root pruning of those which* persist in making rank, growth at the expense of the fruiting wood. This is a common failing of young trees up to six or eight years of age that have been planted in rich ground. The cutting back of the coarse roots, checks the growth and encourages a better fruiting habit. The simplest way to deal with the over-vigorous tree, not over five or six years of age, is to lift it entirely. Aftershortening the coarse downward growing roots to about half their original length, replant in the same hole. Older trees cannot be lifted satisfactorily, so the large roots must be reached by digging a trench round the tree. With the average tree, the trench can be made two and a-half feet from the stem. Fork away the soil from the side of the trench and trace back the large roots to be shortened. The bunches of small fibrous roots should be disturbed as little as possible. When the long coarse roots have been shortened to within two feet of the tree, work the spade well beneath the “ball all round, and chop through any deep striking tap roots. Fill in the trench, treading the soil back firmly, and add fresh loam and mortar rubble, but no manure. Remember too, that having been deprived of most of its “anchor" roots, the tree may need staking to hold it steady for a time.