Rootwork on Ground Growing Maples

Hi folks, This unseasonally warm weather in the U.K. is leading to all my Maples starting to bud up - the shoots are really swelling. I'm seeing this in those in the ground as well as those in pots. I can easily repot my pot Maples as I can give them frost protection if we get a spell of colder weather - I've got a she'd that they spend the winter in.

But what to do with the trees in the ground? I've got about 8 maple syrup that are ground growing - 4 or 5 if these will need their roots worked this year. What do you guys do with your ground growing trees when this happens? As they are in the ground, do frosts not matter the same? Or should I do the root work and then smother them with a mulch? Or should I just leave them?

Thanks all,

Andy

I suppose that will depend how cold it gets.
Over here most winter nights go just below freezing with occasional down to -5C. I start digging my ground grown trees (about 200) in mid winter. They all get the tops pruned and roots shortened dramatically to force better root ramification then simply heeled in close together in one spot until I get all the beds cleared and renovated. Closer to spring the better ones are potted up and the rest go back into the beds. I grow trident and Japanese maples, Japanese black pines, cotoneaster, Chinese quince, plums, olives, Chinese juniper and some Aussie natives in the grow beds (our natives are dug much later in spring or early summer)
So, in my conditions, dig and prune from mid winter on and no need for any protection from light frost. I suspect that if the ground does not freeze you should have no problem with your trees.

It takes multiple days and nights in a row below freezing for soil to start to freeze,... my suspicion is that won't happen in your neck of the woods (and mine) until next winter. Any way, as the trees break dormancy, I'd dig them, work the roots and the top at the same time, then re-plant in the ground. Your trees will be fine. Mulch is a good idea for any planted tree.

Dav4 said:

It takes multiple days and nights in a row below freezing for soil to start to freeze,... my suspicion is that won't happen in your neck of the woods (and mine) until next winter. Any way, as the trees break dormancy, I'd dig them, work the roots and the top at the same time, then re-plant in the ground. Your trees will be fine. Mulch is a good idea for any planted tree.

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Thanks @Dav4 ! I've been looking for just that bit of info for some time now.
However, on my Moon maple, I've been cautioned to treat it differently being a less than vigorous tree.
To not evoke any ill feelings or counter claim, I will not mention names, but 2 of the most respected maple
bonsai enthusiasts on this forum, comprised 2 very different approaches on digging the one in my yard.
I suspect they're both right, and either plan would work, but both wait till July to work on the topside for this shirasawanum.

Japonicus said:

Thanks @Dav4 !
To not evoke any ill feelings or counter claim, I will not mention names, but 2 of the most respected maple
bonsai enthusiasts on this forum, comprised 2 very different approaches on digging the one in my yard.
I suspect they're both right, and either plan would work, but both wait till July to work on the topside for this shirasawanum.

Click to expand...

No worries… I only speak of what I’ve actually done in my own yard, that I’ve found to work. There are more ways to do it, for sure.