The deep, woody roots of pomegranate shrubs or trees do not usually require pruning. It may be necessary to do so when an errant root is threatening a nearby plant or path, the tree is being balled and moved to a new location or the tree is being removed from the site to be discarded. Depending on the size and maturity of the shrub and the amount of root material to be removed, one of several common garden tools will likely get the job done efficiently but a chainsaw may be helpful for very old trees with dense root systems.
Instructions
1. Excavate the soil around the main roots to be removed. Clear away enough soil so that you have a clear field of vision and can see where you are placing cuts and will be able to pull the severed root pieces from the surrounding soil easily.
2. Sever smaller roots that are less than two inches in diameter with loppers or the blade of a shovel or spade. Chop through roots larger in diameter than two inches with an axe or use a chainsaw or handsaw to make the cuts.
3. Preserve between 30 and 75-percent of the root ball intact to help ensure survival and reduce shock. Remove only as much of the root mass as absolutely necessary to alleviate the problem or complete the transplant of the tree. When cutting the roots for tree removal and destruction make as many cuts as needed and wherever needed to complete their easy removal.
4. Lift the root offcuts out of the soil by using your spade or shovel as a lever, repeating this process for each piece of root that is excised.
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