It is not required to remove wire baskets at the time of planting to ensure the survival and reproduction of large tree roots. However, any rope over the top of the ball should be removed, and basket loops should be bent back or removed. It's critical to choose the right size basket for each root ball. Roots create a complete connection of wood fibers around basket wire; roots are not entirely girdled. Translocation is possible thanks to root tissue generated after growing across the wire. There seems to be no damage to the root periderm or a break in it that would allow diseases to invade the tree.