You’re about to become an air-layering wizard! You don’t even need to take the time to learn a new skill. Stick it on your tree! Watch a new tree grow! Wowza! Okay, maybe take a few minutes to learn what you’re doing. You’re still going to feel like a magician, creating clones of your favorite specimen trees that produce fruits just like their mother did. The Root Boot design came out of 50 years of thoughtful innovation, informed by the needs of a commercial fruit tree operation. How Does It Work? Select the right Root Boot for the tree limb you’ll be working with. Small = Up to .33” diameter limb girth Medium Type A = up to .6” diameter limb girth; splines narrow at the tip for a tight fit Medium Type B = up to .6” diameter limb girth; splines remain at .6” diameter to the tips Large = between .6” and 1.75” diameter limb girth Once you’ve prepped your tree, place the Root Boot over the girdled branch and secure using the snaps that surround each case. You may also elect to add zip ties or rubber bands if you suspect that vigorous roots may bust the Boot open, but the snaps are quite secure. Some folks create a hinge using zip ties and we suspect users find myriad uses for the various slits and closure knobs offered. The 3 color options might seem superfluous, but using these colors as indicators is valuable. Some growers mark varieties or layer date using various colors. For example, Red Boot = “Sweetheart Variety” OR Black Boot = “Layered Week of February 2nd”. Mix-matching colors can make simultaneous indications. If you choose, you might add a label using a wax or plant marker. Why Choose Root Boot? Maybe you’re familiar with traditional air layering methods, arduously balancing moss buckets and tin foil whilst balancing on a ladder. With this method, each wrap may take several minutes to concoct. Using a Root Boot, the process is expedited tenfold, making each air layer a literal “snap.” You’ll save time with both installation and removal of the Root Boot, compared to disposable materials. Sure, it’s sustainable and quick but is there really an *advantage* to using a Root Boot over the ole-standard? We see several benefits: Stake Indentation: A specially designed groove on the plastic device itself encourages the root ball to form with an indentation that allows for low-risk placement of a plant stake next to the new trunk. This increases success rate by circumventing root damage that occurs with stake placement against fresh roots. Recyclable!: OK, fine. Tin foil is recyclable too, but with only one use per slice compared to years of re-use, the re-use value of a Root Boot takes the cake. Expedience: For home users, the quick-draw nature casts off just one more barrier to entry: the feeling of difficulty. For commercial growers creating hundreds or thousands of new trees annually, the time-save is precious. Pre-make your boots up to a week before use (so long as you keep the medium moist.) This means less resource planning. The ease of use also cuts down on training expenditures. Double-Duties: This handy device also doubles as a shipping container. Another win for commercial growers! Compact and light polypropylene equals less shipping costs + the design protects the root system during transit. When it arrives, the customer could use the Root Boot again, or recycle it. Success Rate: Beyond the user wins, a Root Boot is the optimal choice for the trees themselves. The design allows for ideal air and moisture balance (like the ear canal!). The sturdy material and closure mechanism offer greater stability for root formation. One of our favorite benefits is the pest deterrence. Ants are less likely to infiltrate and nest in the Root Boot.
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