Method of accelerating the growth and development of trees and shrubs via enhanced root development

A method of developing new seedlings comprising:

• germinating seeds on the surface of a growing medium to obtain the seedlings;
• air pruning roots of the seedlings at a depth of 2½ to 5 inches,
• transplanting one or more air pruned seedlings from a first container to a second container;
• and
• air pruning the roots of the transplanted seedling in the second container at a depth of 3 inches to 5½ inches.

A method of improving the root structure of seedlings, the method comprising:

• placing seeds on a surface of a soil-less growing medium for germination on the surface of the growing medium to obtain seedlings;
• subjecting the seedlings to a first air root pruning by growing the seedlings in a bottomless container of 2½ to 5 inches deep;
• and
• subjecting the seedlings to a second air root pruning by growing the seedlings in a bottomless container of 3 to 5½ inches deep,
• wherein the growing medium comprises 35% to 40% composted rice hulls, 35% to 40% pine bark, and 20% sand.