Being that it was 41F outside today (which qualifies as summery around here), I decided to get a head start on spring tasks by root pruning for the first time with my reciprocating saw. Let me say it was not as easy as I expected. It did not cut through roots like butter, although maybe I will use the larger blade next time, I started with the 5 inch blade because I had more of them in case it dulled quickly. Here is the saw and the tree before I started.

Here are some shots while I was pruning 1-1.5 inches off the top, bottom and sides. I may have massacred the poor tree. Trimming the sides was difficult. Yes, I did this all by myself.

Finally, here is the repotted tree with new soil, agway pine fines and lots of dolomitic limestone pellets added, ready for fertilizer and topping (not for another month or so).

Nice job, Rafael. I've thought about the sawzall method, but haven't tried it. I just used my shovel on my Blackjack last week. It was easier to get out of the wine barrel than I thought it would be. Lifting it back in was the rough part, but I got it done. It had been in the pot 2 years, so it was due. Here are a couple of pics.
 
 
 

Gary

Looks similar in growth habit to my Negronne. You gotta watch those low branches. I hear a sharpened shovel works well for root pruning, but it helps to have one of those spinning sharpeners. Still seems like a thankless task no matter what method you use.

Rafael, I need to do root pruning on several 5 gallon trees and will then pot them up.  I was envisioning just using a knife on these.  Do you think a reciprocating saw would be worthwhile for these? Some have been in 5 gallon containers (SIPs) for 2 seasons and they will be rather rootbound though hopefully not extremely.  I'll definitely need to get one in a year or two as my container figs get larger.

Do you sterilize the blades in between different figs?

Steve

This was my inaugural root pruning, so I have not thought about sterilization. I am thinking dishsoap and water should be enough. Next year I will be much busier I expect. I am considering keeping some figs in 10 gal containers permanently like Pete Kim did, I anticipate pruning smaller containers like those every 2 years. I will probably stick with the saw, but I will let you know how the longer blade works. I expect the 5-inch blade will work well for your 5-gals. Martin had a thread about root pruning here, he also used a reciprocating saw.

Very nice Rafael.  You've inspired me.  

I have 2 'Bill's Figs' Pots that must be root pruned.  Going to move both of them into 20 gal nursery pots which are easier for me to move around.  
Going to do it on the next warm day.  I like the idea of sharpening the shovel.

Danny I will be interested to hear if the trees in Bills pots change their growth habits when they are removed from Sips. I am considering removing my Preto from the Bills Sip due to lackluster growth, though Mosaic virus may be the real cause, I just don't know.

Both very nice jobs! 
Time for me to get some soil mix and planters ready.  This Siberian express cold wave can't last much longer.  

Looks like we will be getting a heat wave next Sunday and Monday; 40F and 46F.  Already making plans.

Yes Danny I am planning on starting late ripeners in the greenhouse sometime next week, after the arctic outbreak ends. Panachee and Col De Dame, maybe Battaglia too.

Great pics fellas. Ask that hard work will pay off for sure. Hopefully I'll soon have healthy trees like that to practice on. 

Well done Rafael!!  I used a shovel on the huge Paridiso you gave me.  I even sharpened the shovel as you recommended, it was not easy, but went very quickly.

Thanks Phil. I would like to try the shovel method someday, just so I know what is easiest. I did not find this particularly easy. Its not like a haircut. And of course, the big question mark is: how will the tree respond this growing season?

Nicely done my friend
I use a sawsall llike yours with a 12 inch blade and take off about a third. So far the trees have responded well and havent lost a beat. I think that as long as the tree is dormant, you can hack away,
Good luck, keep in touch

Thanks Coop. There was a piece of the rootmass that appeared frozen. I have the heater on in the garage but it has just been too damn cold. Anyway, I don't see any damaged branches just yet. I'll have to try that longer blade.

Rafael, Last summer I had a Fracazzanno Nero in a large Sub Irrigated Planter from Walmart that grew beautifully the first year and yielded a dozen fruits. Half way during its second leaf it turned yellow and looked like it started to dry up and began to die on me. I had to cut over two thirds of the trunk in order to keep it alive. THIS MONTH I upon trying to root prune it,  it was clear to me that it was root bound and suffocating in its pot. I was lucky that a major part of the lower portion remained green and even had new shoots. I decided to plant it in the ground.
Recently upon examination of many of Sub Irrigated Planters, I'm not sure that I could keep the trees in there without root pruning yearly. I just moved about 22 trees to in ground despite having no irrigation yet in the hope of not losing them. From observation the fig trees in an Self Watering pot grow much faster and healthier than regular containers but have to be either re potted or pruned sooner than if they were in regular pots.

Thank you Sas

I use Bill's pots, he recommends waiting 4 years for the first pruning and 3 years thereafter. I had to re-pot the Preto last year because of a defect in the sip. The roots did not seem too full for 2 years old. The sip is still defective so I am removing the Preto completely by early April. I do not expect it to be root-bound this year either, so Bill seems right in his estimates. I will let you know when I do. I have yet to experience what you have described. I hope your beautiful Col de Dames are ok.

Shailesh you are cracked dude. I pruned this tree with the cuttings I sent you :-\

Its the White Genoa, Shailesh

The reciprocating saw with the 12 inch pruning blade works very fast for me.
I find it easiest to put the tree on a couple of pallets or something similar to root prune.

I think they didn't have the 12 inch at Home Depot, I'll check Amazon.

I found mine at Lowe's.