Moving Abies koreana
Thankthecat
Posts: 421
Hi - I've been growing a prostrate form of Abies koreana in a huge pot for about five years. I went to move it yesterday, only to find it has sent a root through the bottom of the pot and firmly into the soil below. I really do want to move it, but am worried about cutting through the root. Is it likely to be a very deep tap root? I thought conifers only had shallow roots, but the pot is about two feet tall so it's at least that deep! Any advice?
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Hi Thankthecat
. I've no experience of growing your plant (had to google it
) but it sounds like a tap root, could be searching for water if it's pot bound.
Is it possible to dig down to loosen the soil underneath the pot before you attempt to lift it?
Sadly not, Kitty. The pot is so big and heavy that we can only lift one side of it a couple of inches. It's about 2' in diameter and 2'6" tall. I have refreshed the top layer of compost in the pot every couple of years and it is out in the elements, so getting rainwater plus I water it in dry spells, but I guess it must be a tap root. Next question then - will the plant survive if I cut that root? From the little I can see, I'd say it's about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter. I'm just hoping that, because it's so far below the surface part of the plant, that it will cope if I cut it?
As it's not a plant I'm familiar with I wouldn't dare hazard a guess as to it's chances of survival.
I did once cut through some large roots when transplanting an established Acer from my mum's garden to mine. It was refusing to budge so I took a risk and chopped it (mum was going to bin it so worth a chance). Luckily it survived.
I'd sit tight and wait for advice from one of the proper gardeners
I would risk it.
Thanks Ladybird, I think I will have to and just give it lots of tlc afterwards.
That's great Verdun, thank you!