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Root growth in containers
Millions of trees are propagated annually in small 1.5 to 4 inch wide containers. They are shifted to progressively larger containers until sold. Root defects develop on many of these containers unless roots are managed appropriately. The photos and captions below will show you how roots typically develop when not managed.
(Click on photographs for more information-suggest starting with 1)
1
seed germinates sending tap root down |
2
geometry of root system does not fit in a container |
3
tap root circles container bottom |
4
tap root continues growing at bottom |
5
surface roots deflected down |
6
one year later |
7
roots deflected up |
8
one year later, a nightmare root system |
9
kinked roots |
10
defects from 2 containers |
11
root ball fills with deflected roots |
12
roots can completely encircle trunk |
13
roots growing over main roots in flare |
14
roots embed into trunk, cut off water |
15
tree becomes unstable |
16
large tree falls |
17
large root girdling trunk |
18
good root system |
