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Root growth: field nursery
Roots inside the root ball on field grown trees take on a variety of forms depending on many factors including, species, age, soil type, hardpan, drainage characteristics, irrigation and fertilizer practices, root pruning, number of times tree has been moved, ground cover management, propagation practices, container vs. bare-root liner material, and other factors. Roots systems generated on cutting propagated trees can also differ from those grown from seeds. The photo series below will show the variability in root system from many field grown root balls.
(Click on photographs for more information-suggest starting with 1)
1
seed germinates |
2
tap root dominating |
3
sometimes laterals develop |
4
*tap root pruned |
5
*new roots grow down |
6
*new roots grow down and out |
7
*some laterals forming |
8
*more laterals forming |
9
more adventitious roots |
10
down roots and laterals at surface |
11
*laterals at surface |
12
laterals at surface |
13
holding trees |
14
holding in mulch |
15
holding in ground |
16
hardened-off tree |
17
hardened-off tree |
*Thanks to Keith Warren and Dr. Gary Watson for some of the above photos. |
