The health of your trees depends mainly on their ability to absorb nutrients, water, and sunlight. Since trees absorb life-sustaining nutrients through their root systems, this is one part of your tree’s physiology that you shouldn’t neglect.
However, we often don’t think much of tree roots unless they pose a safety hazard. To take the best care of your trees, you must understand how tree root systems work and how best to manage them.
This blog post looks into everything you need to know about tree root systems, as inspired by the experts in tree health care in Phoenix, AZ.
Anatomy of a Tree Root System
Understanding the various parts and functions of a root system is critical to knowing how to best care for your trees. Tree roots comprise several layers, with the innermost and outermost layers being the most important.
The inner layer has tubes that carry nutrients and water. The outer layer, known as the epidermis, helps protect the root’s interior and sends out root hairs to absorb water and minerals from the soil.
Types and Functions of Tree Roots
Your tree may have several different root types. However, most of a tree’s roots are thin, flexible feeder roots. These roots usually lay not more than two feet below the soil surface, and they mainly help to suck in water nutrients from the soil.
Feeder roots then transport the absorbed water and nutrients to larger woody transport roots. These lateral roots also help to stabilize the tree’s structure, as the feeder roots are too tiny and flexible to provide adequate structural support.
Another type of root is the taproot. These large, deep roots grow straight down from the center of a tree. It’s worth noting that some trees don’t have a taproot. Other trees may also develop adventitious roots and striker roots, which often have little impact on tree health and growth.
Tips To Promote Healthy Root Growth
Poor care can lead to various problems that adversely impact your tree’s health. These include rot, root flare, and oxygen deficiency. However, it can be challenging to treat unhealthy tree roots. As such, experienced arborists recommend the following preventive measures to keep root systems healthy:
Adequate Growing Space
Tree roots need sufficient space for healthy growth. You need to provide well-conditioned soil about 16 to 24 inches deep, adequate water, and oxygen.
A long, deep-watering will help keep your trees well-hydrated. It’s important to take a break in between waterings to prevent waterlogging.
Root Injury Protection
Various avoidable issues can adversely affect root growth, including mechanical injury, soil compaction, soil depth changes, and improper water and fertilization methods.
Consider removing the compacted soil and replacing it with non-compacted soil before planting your trees.
Applying nitrogen fertilizer to well-established trees after spring leaf expansion can help prevent fertilization-related root problems.
If you implement these tips, you can rest assured you’ll have mature trees with healthy root systems after a few years.
Contact Your Local Tree Experts for Assistance
Now that you know the importance of roots, you must pay attention to your tree root systems to keep them in great shape. If you need help caring for your tree roots, Arbor Tree Feeding Experts, your trusted local arborist, is here for you.
We’re a family-owned company with over 26 years of tree care experience. We provide various services, including tree health care, tree disease diagnosis and treatment, and certified arborist consulting. Contact the professionals at Arbor Tree Feeding Experts at 480-528-9486 for more information on tree root systems or learn about deep root fertilization.