Q: We bought 2 spiral junipers and transplanted them to new pots. The lady we bought them from said it was okay to trim the roots periodically to keep them from getting too big. So….My husband trimmed the roots to fit them in the new pots. The pots we put them in kept tipping over so we had to transplant them again. Now, they’re dying. They continue to get browner every day. We have fertilized them and think that they may have gotten too much water. What can we do to save them?

A: The junipers of course were lovely specimens and I can see why you would be concerned about their progress. Root pruning is a very delicate procedure and usually on these kinds of specialty trees it is better left to an expert. The delicate small roots are the most essential for water and mineral absorption and removing them places the tree or shrub under dire stress. It would have been better to put the trees in slightly larger pots to accommodate the essential roots, and then you could have pruned some of the larger roots but left the fine, absorption roots alone.

Root pruning is often done on trees and shrubs 10-12 weeks prior to transplanting into larger ground plots then the plant is watered to encourage the growth of the more roots at the pruning site. Root pruning is also done on important bonsai plants and specimen trees such as yours which are found in museums or commercial locations. However, even on these expensive trees and shrubs large portions of the roots are seldom removed at any one time.

One other note, adding fertilizer to a new transplant often adds more stress to the now tender and vulnerable roots. Water would have been all the plant needed at the initial transplanting. It may recover, but do not be overly optimistic. I am afraid we may have to chalk this one up to experience. Continue to water the trees, but be sure they are well-drained and do not add any fertilizer.

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