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The Whitcomb® System
The Original Root Branching System
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| Start
Strong… Air-root-pruning stimulates root branching without toxic chemicals are 3 days old. Left, without the benefit
of air-root-pruning. Right, air-root-pruned in the RootMaker® II
container. This critical air-root-pruning accelerates growth and increases efficiency.
Continue the root branching with each complimentary step of the Whitcomb
System®. |
Finish
Strong. This 6-inch caliper bur oak was grown with the Whitcomb
System® and is 6 years old from seed germination. Notice root branching in all directions. After 3 months in the
RootMaker® propagation container, and 2.5 years of constriction-pruning in the knit fabric container, this oak was
transplanted and grown 3 years with the fabric removed. The only mechanical root cutting was by a 52" tree spade at harvest. |
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| How you get there is up to you.
RootMaker® has a wide range of products and sizes to fit your production needs.
After getting off to the right start in our propagation containers, follow the 4-inch Rule and shift to RootMakers®
of 1-, 3-, or 5-gallon or our 5" or 8" bags for cinder blocks. Follow that step with our knit fabric container (in the field)
sizes 10" up to 24", or our new, soft-sided, white RootTrapper® container (above ground
or as the production pot in "pot-in-pot") sizes 7 to 60 gallon, or the versatile
RootBuilder® expandable container (above ground) sizes 20 to 500 gallon or more. Each step stimulates
root branching and compliments the next, creating a fibrous root system vastly superior to conventional production methods. |
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| The potential of every root system is realized with the
Whitcomb System®. This 6.5" lacebark elm was started in a RootMaker®
propagation container, then field grown and finished in a RootBuilder® for 5 months. |
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| Root Branching to Maximize Growth and Health. |
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| *Note, any Step 2 can go to a Step 3(a or b)
with the exception of shifting a 3- or 5-gallon RootMaker® to a 12" knit container or 7 gallon RootTrapper
®- due to space limitations. Keep in mind the 4-inch Rule. |
| At RootMaker®, we are dedicated to creating fibrous root systems. Our products are designed to
promote root branching and the production of more root branching at every phase of production. This table shows four potential steps
(or shifting stages) and various options, depending on your production needs. Each step compliments the next. The result is the ultimate
fibrous root system. A more fibrous root system means a greater surface area and translates to a greater efficiency in the absorption of
water and nutrients; an increase in growth rate, establishment, and vigor; a higher transplant survivability; and ultimately, superior
performance for your customers. |
Someone once said: "Sometimes less is more"...
This isn't one of those times.
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The left photo shows root systems with the RootMaker® system (left) and without (right).
Every root outside the 24" ring in the right photo would be lost if this tree were harvested with a tree spade or balled-in-burlap. |
How
the Whitcomb System® works:
Before you begin nursery production,
consider your seed source and its adaptability
to your geographic region. For example,
redbud seed from a parent tree along the
Gulf Coast or Florida will produce redbud
seedlings that will be injured or killed
in Tennessee or Kentucky. Conversely,
redbud seed from Tennessee will produce
seedlings that will grow along the Gulf
Coast but will flower poorly, if at all.
Step 1
RootMaker® Propagation
Containers
The first step toward creating a fibrous
root system is with the RootMaker®
propagation containers. Besides the original
4-pack design which was patented in 1988,
there is the RootMaker®
II 32-cell tray, and our new 18-cell
and 60-cell trays. Positive results from
air-root-pruning can be seen as early
as three days after planting. (See cover
photo)
USA
Patent #5,557,886
RootMakers®
require a wire bench or other support to
allow good air circulation and thus efficient
air-root- pruning on all sides of the container,
not just the a base flat. Six 4-pack RootMakers®
nicely fit a 12" X 18" flat (Ex:
Sunnyside flats from Dillen Industries).
The 32-cell and 18-cell RootMakers®
fit a standard 10" X 20" mesh
bottom flat.  |
RootMakers® can be filled with a mix of peat and perlite 50/50
or peat, perlite, and vermiculite 40/40/20, or pine bark, peat, and perlite at 50/30/20. Add 1.5 pounds of Micromax® micronutrients, 3
pounds of dolomite, and 6 pounds of Osmocote® 18-6-12 (no substitutes) per cubic yard of mix.
RootMakers®
are designed to direct roots toward an opening
in the container. The first root to reach
an opening is usually the tap root. Once
the tap root reaches one of the four bottom
openings, the tip dehydrates and stops growing.
When this occurs, secondary roots form that
are more horizontal in growth habit. These
secondary roots soon reach the side openings,
dehydrate the root tips, create tertiary
branching, and so on.
USA Patent #4,753,037
Timing is also very important. RootMakers® aren't just containers for "holding" plants; they are production tools. Once a
fibrous root system has been created, it is time for the next step or shift to a larger container. If plants are left in RootMakers®
too long the benefits will begin to decrease and water management may become more difficult, due to the unique, high concentration of roots. Monitor your plants' progress.
The length of time in RootMaker® propagation containers varies greatly but may be 2 to 4 months.
Step 2
Depending on your production requirements, there are several options.
A good rule of thumb is "the 4-inch Rule". Similar to pruning shrubs, research has
shown that when a root is pruned, root branching occurs at the tip to about four inches back. This is why RootMaker® propagation containers are 4
inches deep. If plants are shifted to a larger RootMaker® container with a sidewall difference less than 4 inches, excellent branching will
occur but this fibrous root system will soon exhaust the container volume and may require an additional shift. If plants are shifted to a container that has a sidewall difference
greater than 4 inches, some of the root branching opportunity will be missed. (See earlier table ) |
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RootMaker® 1 and 3 Gallon
Many
nurseries shift to 1- or 3- gallon RootMakers®,
generally in May, June, or early July,
then allow these seedlings to grow in
this container until fall planting in
the field or the next shift. All models
of our 1- (round or square) or 3- gallon
RootMakers® have
many openings to continue the air-root
pruning process.
USA Patent #4,753,037
A
good mix for 1- or 3-gallon RootMakers®
is ground pine bark, peat, and sand 60/20/20.
To this, add 1.5 pounds of Micromax®
micronutrients and 14 pounds of 17-7-12
Osmocote® per
cubic yard. The quantity of dolomite required
for best growth depends on the minerals
dissolved in your irrigation water. Because
water quality varies widely, no blanket
recommendations can be made.
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In this container, roots are now insulated from temperature extremes and are directed to openings of 3/32
of an inch in diameter. Through these holes roots "escape" into the surrounding soil to absorb water and nutrients and provide stability. Roots cannot expand beyond
the 3/32 of an inch which causes an accumulation of sugars and starches inside the container. Root branching occurs behind this constriction. At harvest the
small feeder roots outside the container are broken off. Once the Grounder is harvested, shift the plant into a cheaper blow-molded container to go to market, then
reinstall the Grounder while the hole is still open.
Cinder Blocks
Another method that is rapidly gaining in
popularity is the novel concept which utilizes
concrete cinder block cavities. Our 5"
and 8" bags slip snugly into each respective
cavity. Here, we are able to eliminate blowover,
insulate from temperature extremes, and
continue the root branching procedure either
by root-tip-trapping or root constriction.
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Step 3a
Field Planting
Once the goals of Step 2 have been achieved, a third step may fit into your program. The traditional
method involves field planting, eventually harvesting with a tree spade, wrapping in burlap, then placing in a wire
basket. This is very labor intensive and a large portion of the roots is lost at harvest. An alternative is the
knit fabric container.
The Knit Fabric Containers
Although somewhat labor intensive during installation, harvesting is
almost a treat. For the smaller sizes (10", 12", 14") one man can spade
around the outside of the container to sever the small roots,
rock the tree back and forth, and lift the
tree out of the ground. For larger container
sizes (18", 24") when plants are
dormant and field conditions are moist,
we double-loop a nylon strap on the stem
and lift the tree with the hydraulics of
a small tractor.
Installation of the knit fabric container
is accomplished with the use of an auger
of the same size. A depth control gauge
on the auger allows for a uniform depth
of 12 inches. It is also important to level
the bottom of the hole to prevent a "bowl"
effect. The container is then set in the
hole and held open with a plastic expandable
sleeve, then backfilled with the same field
soil. At least one inch of the knit container
should remain above the soil line to prevent
roots escaping over the top. The system
works better when care is taken to keep
the sides of the fabric container straight
when packing the backfilled soil.
This procedure has been tested on many
species but is not recommended for use on pecans or palms.
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With the knit fabric container, small roots escape but are unable to expand, causing a
constriction which leads to branching of the root system and an accumulation of energy. When a tree in the knit
fabric container (sizes 10" to 24") is harvested, the fabric is removed and, once planted, is provided the benefit
of having a great majority of the root system not only intact, but well branched and poised to establish into the surrounding soil horizontally rather than just downward.
Step 3b
Above Ground
The RootTrapper® Soft-sided Container
A new method which allows the mobility benefits of remaining above ground is the
RootTrapper®, generally 10- to 30-gallons at this shift. This is a black,
spun-bonded fabric which has been laminated with a white coating. This unique container stops circling roots
and continues to stimulate root branching by trapping root tips.
Patent Pending
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The white outer coating greatly
reduces container temperature so roots do not
die on the sunny side as with black plastic
pots. Water usage is also reduced as there are
no drain holes; water seeps out the hundreds
of holes created by the base stitching. When
ready to harvest, make one slit down the side
with a utility knife, peel off the container,
and marvel at the root system. We have been
able to use heavy duty staples to rejoin the
side wall together and reuse RootTrappers®
for another season or two, at a slightly reduced
diameter. (See photo below, using Arrow stapler
model P-35 with 3/8 inch staples). RootTrappers®are
available as liners for pot-in-pot production
as a special order, call for availability.
Roots produced by catalpa 14 days after transplanting.
Another method which continues to improve the root system in
the process above ground is the RootBuilder® Expandable Container. Because of its versatility it
can serve as a Step 3 or Step 4 progression. See below.
Step 4
Larger RootTrapper® Containers
By now the system has been in effect for at least 2
growing seasons and we are dealing with a tree/shrub of considerable size and a well-branched root system.
One option is to plant in the field conventionally and eventually harvest as discussed at the beginning of Step 2.
Another option is the RootTrapper® which comes in sizes up to 60 gallons for continued benefits of
root-tip-trapping for another season.
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The RootBuilder®II Container
The RootBuilder® expandable container is
another option. This highly successful, versatile, plastic container
(patented, 1990) now has been redesigned and is patent pending. It comes in a continuous roll and can be cut to
create the size of container you require. With a few inches of overlap, the container is created by inserting the
included plastic rivets. The bottom of the RootBuilder® can be our RootBuilder® base material which
allows roots to penetrate into the soil, or a material that is impervious to roots such as 6 mil. poly., or a spun-bonded weed-barrier type fabric which
aides movement of the container.
USA Patent #4,939,865
At the tip of each undulating funnel on the side wall
of this container is a hole. For instance, a 30-inch, 45-gallon RootBuilder®II container contains
approximately 1600 funnel openings. As a result of the sidewall configuration, roots are directed outward to these holes
and forced to branch yet again by air-root-pruning , thus completing the Whitcomb
System®. If needed, the original rivets can be cut off, then an
additional RootBuilder® piece can be added and re-riveted to create a larger container. Ultimately, this is a superior
tree with a superior root system, given the best chance for survival in its new environment.
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Additional Products
RootSkirts®
Root death on the sun-exposed side of a black plastic
container is a common, frustrating occurrence. The
RootSkirt® is a sleeve of laminated fabric which slips over a plastic container to moderate root temperatures. During Oklahoma
summers, root zones in containers protected with RootSkirts® have been as much as 20 degrees cooler, due to the
white, light- and heat-reflecting coating. These insulating qualities also moderate temperatures in winter.
Above,
containers do not blow over with the "up-with-pots" system. Below left, catalpa grown without the protection of
a RootSkirt®. Absence of roots is due to the extreme heat on the sun-exposed
side of the container. Below right, catalpa grown in a container, protected on all sides by a RootSkirt®.
Chaps®
This stem protector has several unique qualities. The outside lamination protects the base
of young trees from herbicides. Because Chaps® are white, they also reflect light, thus working with the soft inner fabric to
insulate stems from
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temperature extremes which can lead to excessive cell elongation and weak
growth. Also, unlike other rigid stem protectors, the softer inner fabric of
Chaps® prevents scuffing and scraping of stems.
Chaps® are reusable and installation is complete with a stapler.
Chaps®
in the field
RootTrapper® –in–Pot.
Now available to customer fit your socket pot. Major root escape is no longer
a problem plus, a fibrous root system is created by root-tip-trapping. At harvest, roots are insulated from temperatures extremes.
(Left, standard pot circling. Right, fibrous roots.)
Left, standard pot root escape.Right, roots are contained,
branching inside.
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“How long can I leave my plants in these containers?“
RootMaker® aren't just containers for “leaving“ plants;
they are intensive production tools. the question should be, “How soon can I shift my plants“ Once a fibrous root system has been
created, it is time for the next step or shift to a larger container. RootMakers® grown plants will have highly branched
root systems ready to shift sooner than conventional containers of similar size. The sooner this shift is made, the sooner your plant has made an
additional jump on the competition. RootMakers® plants don't just survive, they thrive. |
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