Does pruning slow root growth?

treestyle

hi,

Some one wanting public trees lopped to improve their view told me that lopping them would slow the root growth and minimize the likeyhood of damage to the kerb / footpath.

i don't doubt that it would slow root development initially, however when the new growth comes on i'd expect it to be business as usual down below.

what about minor tip pruning, using secatures to reduce the ends of branches by perhaps 5 to 10 internodes, done anually for example. Would you expect this to slow root growth long term?

trees in question were Melaleuca leucadenron. but my question relates to trees in general.

Cheers.

newguy18

I don't think so,but i could be wrong.

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old schooler

Eric Frei

Initially there would be some root restriction however it is soon replaced ... like within weeks.

Then the canopy will also become denser, so a smaller tree but more leaves.

Your tip pruning idea is like hedging.

The trees genetic size will try to prevail.

With bonsai you actually prune the roots to contain the tree.

I'd suggest growth hormones of sorts, USA has Cambistat etc and root barrier.

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