When to root prune

I've heard abt root pruning a shrub that you plan to transplant later. I've got quite a few I've got to move this fall. Is it too late to root prune? Too early?? I know nothing abt this.
Than ks!
Sherry

Sorry - I should have searched the net first. I didn't bcs I usually get such conflicting info. But most seem to agree on this subject - at the latest I should have done it last Spring. Oh well, eleagnus is pretty tough.

No, it's fine to root prune now. Do it a section at a time, though. Don't go all the way around the plant at one time. Do a section, wait a few days, then do another section.

The thing that raises my red flag about this is the word "Elaeagnus." That's a very notorious genus, on par with Lonicera and Ligustrum.

I'm worried that you might be trying to relocate something that perhaps should be eliminated before it spreads. What species are you dealing with? Is it a problem in your area?

Guy S.

They're E. pungens - can't remember the cultivar name. They're not a problem that I know of.

Long story that I won't go into abt why I bought 3 shrubs that I didn't even like (involves a million yr. old hedge of that bright chartreuse/yellow euonymus (yuk!) that was here when I bought the house) .

Anyway, they've kind of grown on me and I've already spent the money so...may as well use them somewhere - - just not where I originally planted them. They're going to go in the new mixed shrub border I'm planning across the back of my property.

Yikes! I just saw that Elaeagnus is on an invasive plant list for TN and VA. Butterfly Bush is invasive in 12 states and I have one of those too! I'm afraid to look at any more. Well, I can't afford to toss the ones I've got but I promise not to buy any more!

Sharpen the shovel with a file or grinder first.

It will cut roots cleaner and do less rootball damage - not as much jerking on the roots when the blade goes in.

Easier on the ankles too, since it slides in easier.

Good general advice, except in this particular case. With Elaeagnus pungens you should hook a tracter and log chain to it and pull it out to prune the roots by hand. Then leave it bare root out in the sun for at least a week to cure any root fungi. And when you finally replant it, be sure to turn it upside down so the stems are protected by the soil and the roots have good access to air circulation. And if it grows anyway, which it might, call in a bulldozer!

Guy S.

I'm not trying to knock your planting decision, but I have never liked Elaeagnus either. I just don't like the color of the foliage. They always look scorched from a distance.

The E. pungens "Fruitlandii" is downright unattractrive IMHO.

It turns out mine are actually Elaeagnus x ebbingei "Gilt Edge". (I went thru the plant tags I've saved and found it - what else does one do when you wake up at 3 a.m.? LOL) The shape is very attractive tho I do cut out the wild canes when they get too weird looking. The leaf color, green with golden yellow margins is very pretty in the spring before the yellow gets so bright. I'm going to use them to light up an area that is slightly shady. If I had my druthers, I'd go buy something else, but I've got to make do with what I've got.