North Carolina Forest Service Tree Planting Pocket Guide 8th Edition - 2016

SATISFACTORY
LOBLOLLY, WHITE PINE, SHORTLEAF
Do not prune tap roots of these seedlings
shorter than 4½ inches in length.
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Do not root prune unless necessary to plant
seedlings at proper depth and to avoid J-rooting,
especially on difficult sites.
If excessively long laterals are pruned, they should
not be pruned shorter than 5-7 inches.
Prune roots to uniform lengths. Align root collars in
bunches before pruning roots.
Use a sharp axe or hatchet for root pruning. Never
break or twist roots off by hand.
Assign only properly trained persons to be
responsible for root pruning. Closely supervise the
operation.
Root Pruning Standards
27