FAIL!
won't waste anymore of your time until I learn how to do it right.A search on GW turns up enough advice for me to take a stab/poke/cut. I know....don't let the roots dry out.
Ken, you wrote a good explanation about optimal brutality in root pruning.
I have such a good picture....I gotta figure this out....
idabean

FAIL!
won't waste anymore of your time until I learn how to do it right.A search on GW turns up enough advice for me to take a stab/poke/cut. I know....don't let the roots dry out.
Ken, you wrote a good explanation about optimal brutality in root pruning.
it appears I may have succeeded.....

Sensitivity to air exposure varies widely with species.

at photobucket... find the HTML code.. paste it where you type..

on preview.. if you see it.. we will see it...

guessing here.. plant the thing.. based on size ...leave the offender exposed [it looks like it will be exposed if planted at teh proper planting depth ] ..... in fall or next spring.. we will cut it ....

most of us do this on small 1 to 2 foot plants ... much more forgiving ... based on the size of your trunk.. i suspect a rather large transplant ... so i would worry about losing too much root mass at transplant...

otherwise.. its a pine.. pretty aggressive.. cold spring.. still early .... just plant it.. ... what do you have to lose ...

ken

{{gwi:694815}}

I'd agree with Ken, unless its easier to pull out or cut further in now in order to bend the root out and get a cleaner cut.

Hopefully that made sense.

i wouldnt try to bend it out.. too much further damage potential to the rest ....

i would just snip it in two places.. in a year ... or fall ...

ken

Ken, that's my photo! What a surprise. Well, your and BB answers are based on the picture, so I am reassured. I spent at least two hours reading about girdled roots in container grown trees. I should hesitate longer buying end of the season pot bound less-expensive trees.
Is the offending root right at the collar of the pine? That was my next question, help me locate the collar.
All I'm losing now is my ignorance.
Thanks
Marie/idabean

Sorry, I meant whaas. It is about 4 ft from flare to tip.
MT

Is the offending root right at the collar of the pine?

==>>> i would say.. yes.. basically.. close enough ...

kinda tells you a lot about who jammed it in that pot... dont you think.. what.. potted 6 to 8 inches too deep????

and had you not broken up the media.. and found this.. you would have planted it about 6 inches too deep.. and it would have died long before it strangled itself..

tree bark is not made to be constantly wet ... as ... lets call it.. root bark ... one likes dampness.. one rots in dampness ...

just plant it with the offender at soil surface.... so you can see it ... and cut offender in fall or next spring..

but lets be clear.. that root has probably been there many years.. it did not get that big from spring delivery.. to fall bargain ...

yes.. it was your picture.. because... as i told you.. i found the HTML code and pasted it where i typed ....

ken