http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-4-76-1291-1-1-2,00.htmlThe main point of this article was to explain why we should get the root system of our new trees ready to plant so they can grow the way their were meant to grow. I know I've made this same mistake over and over. I've never removed the dirt from the roots of balled or potted new trees. I've never trimmed roots to promote new root growth. I've planted many flowers and trees that have grown inside the pots and had roots growing in a circle, twisted together, instead of the roots flowing out naturally. I guess I just assumed that the roots would straighten themselves out. It never entered my mind that it would help the roots by trimming and shaping them the way they were meant to be for optimize growth.
I was taught just the opposite actually, to not disturb the roots anymore then what I had to to take the plant out of the container, place it in the hole, cover it with dirt and water it. My dad always told me to put some water in the bottom of the hole before putting the plant in it too, to give the bottom roots water and so they would grow downward. I always had pretty good success with that method but now wonder how many time the bottom roots just rotted away and I have dug up some plants that were in a good while and died and did notice that the roots were still growing in the same curved pattering they were trained to grow in while in the container. So I have to consider the merits of what is explained in the article you will find in the link above.
I think it would be fun to try a little experiment with two flats of flowers and two separate flower beds beside each other, one side trim up all the roots and the other side leave the roots alone and see which flower bed did the best that year.
