Start Strong, Finish Stronger
Air-root-pruning stimulates root branching without toxic chemicals. On the left is a root without the benefit of air-root-pruning. On the right is a root that has been air-root-pruned in the RootMaker®II container. Air-root-pruning accelerates growth and increases efficiency.
This 6-inch caliper bur oak, grown using the RootMaker System®, is six years old from seed germination and exhibits well-developed root branching in all directions. After spending three months in a RootMaker® propagation container, followed by 2.5 years of constriction-pruning in a knit fabric container, this oak was transplanted with the fabric removed and allowed to grow freely for another three years. The only mechanical root pruning occurred during harvest with a 52″ tree spade.
The 3 Methods of Root Pruning
Air-Root Pruning
- Air-root-pruning works by dehydrating the root tips.
- The first step to creating a fibrous root system is with RootMaker® air-root-pruning propagation trays.
- Following propagation, larger RootMaker® containers are designed to continue air-pruning at the sidewall.
- RootMaker® injection molded containers use a series of ribs and ledges that stop root circling and direct roots to openings. The RootBuilder® container prunes by air with 100% of the sidewall directing roots to openings.
Root-Tip Trapping
- The RootTrapper® container is a black, spun-bonded fabric, laminated with a white outer coating.
- This unique container stops circling roots and continues to stimulate root branching by trapping root tips.
- Each square inch can prune up to 100 roots.
- The RootTrapper® II allows for increased drainage.
- RootTrapper®-In-Pot is made to fit any socket pot.
- The RootTrapper® Grounder has a RootTrapper® sidewall and a Knit Fabric bottom.
Constriction Pruning
- The Knit Fabric In-Ground container allows small roots to extend through the fabric but does not allow them to expand.
- Plants grown with this method have less production costs and maintenance.
- Constriction pruning leads to root branching and an accumulation of energy.
- Constriction pruning, or root girdling, is effectively accomplished in field soil where roots are allowed to grow through a fabric container wall.
The Rootmaker System: How It Works
RootMaker® products are designed to create fibrous, non-circling root systems horizontally and vertically at all phases of production to equip plants for transplanting success. Our products aren’t just “containers” but rather root production tools. Each step complements the next, building upon the previous fibrous root system.