Acer in pot tap root

I have a lovely Acer in a pot but when I went to move it a tap root has anchored it to the ground beneath. Would it be fatal to cut the tap root?? I’m guessing the reason it has grown so well is because of the tap root. It’s not a disaster if I can’t touch it, but I was just wondered.

 

I'd leave it and prune the acer if necessary. It's ok to prune twigs smaller than a pencil at the moment.

 

Perhaps move it next winter and cut the root off then.
Its probably not a tap root as such more like what would be an anchor root if it had a free root run.

 

Thanks @BB3 and @pete.

 

Hi

What size of pot ? Is the pot on the top of the paving stones ?

 

I had an acer moved last year, it was in the ground but I wanted it in a pot because it grew too big in the ground. The person who helped me dig it up had to saw through the thick root in order to remove it from the ground. It is now in a pot and seems fine, growing away nicely.

 

Acers are routinely root pruned to control their size in containers and to create bonsai. I’d try to do it now @AuntyRach before it gets too attached to the ground below and before the weather really heats up. Avoid cutting any stems or branches until the tree is dormant. I’ve just watched a video on YouTube about root pruning Acers and it was quite brutal .

 

The pot is about 30cm wide and 60cm tall and placed over soil.

I probably wouldn’t want to move the tree as ideal there (shady by day with evening sun) but it could do with a re-pot.

 

If it's rooted into the soil it probably won't need it, especially if you could damage the bottom of the pot in some way.
I have one of those acers. I dumped it (potless) in a bed at the edge of the patio because it needed watering twice a day, thinking it probably wouldn't survive. The trouble is, once in the ground, they want to be HUGE. The ultimate height, when I looked it up, was scary.
I'm for ever trying to put manners on it!
Affords plenty of privacy and I don't need a patio parasol! Fortunately, I prefer a slightly shady place to sit - not that I ever do.

 

I'd leave it personally. The problem is that it's a decent sized tree and not a massive pot which means you don't know how much the escaped root is contributing to keeping it going. If the roots have gone through the pot then it is probably quite pot bound and it can be hard to keep enough water in the pot.