Knowing how to care for tree roots is essential, yet not everyone knows how to do it. Many people think that just because their trees are big and strong, there’s no need to care for their roots.
However, this isn’t true. Tree roots are just as important as the leaves, branches, and even fruits of your trees, and require long-term maintenance.
Your trees won’t survive without healthy plant roots. The roots absorb water, minerals and nutrients, and harbor the trees to the ground. Roots are the base of your trees — and the stronger these roots are, the stronger your trees become.
Here are some roots tree care practices that you can follow:
1. Water Deeply
Since roots are the base of the tree, the amount of water you feed them can significantly affect the health of your tree. Your trees will eventually wilt and die if you neglect giving sufficient amounts of water to their roots.
You can take care of your tree roots by watering them deeply during the dry months. Ideally, you should soak the root zone starting from its drip line (the soil underneath the edge of the leaves) and extend outward. Make sure to soak the soil, so the water reaches the roots that are located at least 12 inches below the ground.
Never apply water to the base of a mature tree as this will not provide enough water to the tree’s roots. You can also invest in a soaker hose and spiral it throughout the root zone.
2. Use Mulch
If you’re curious about how to protect tree roots, using mulch is the answer. Applying the right amount of mulch to your tree roots can maintain a steady soil temperature and protect the roots from extreme temperatures during summer or winter. You can think of mulch as an insulating blanket that acts as a barrier between the air and the soil.
Mulch also enhances the nutrient status of the soil, removes the residual effects of pesticides, and controls erosion loss.
When placing mulch around the tree roots, make sure that the mulch is no more than four inches deep and is at least five inches away from the trunk. As much as possible, use fresh, natural mulch like bark chips or wood chips because using one made from oak leaves and pine needles can make the soil more acidic. Plastic mulch, on the other hand, prevents rain from reaching the soil and the tree roots.
3. Provide Oxygen
Aside from getting enough water and sunlight, your tree roots also need oxygen to thrive. High levels of dissolved oxygen encourage healthy root growth because the root system requires oxygen for aerobic respiration. This process releases energy necessary for healthy root growth.
One of the easiest ways to give your tree roots more oxygen is to allow the soil to dry for several days between watering. With dry soil, oxygen can easily make its way to your tree roots.
It’s also important to avoid compacting the ground underneath the tree or adding new soil around it. These practices can suffocate the roots of your trees and prevent them from absorbing oxygen present on the surface.
4. Observe Proper Spacing
If your trees are planted in a garden, pay attention to how they are spaced. Placing your plants very close to each other will prevent them from getting enough nutrients and make them susceptible to getting and spreading diseases.
Placing shrubs, flowers, and other types of plants near the roots of your trees will also prevent all of your greeneries from growing healthily. Plants that are placed too close to each other will compete for nutrients, water and light, causing other plants and your tree roots to die.
To keep your tree roots and other plants healthy, provide enough space for them. Generally, you should place flowers and other types of plants away from the base of the trees. Additionally, low hedge plants (plants that grow to four feet high) should be placed 18 inches apart, while tall hedge plants should be spaced at least four feet apart.
5. Consult Professionals
There’s only so much you can do when caring for your tree roots. Often, you’ll see yourself unsuccessful even if you follow countless tips teaching you how to care for tree roots. This is especially true if you’re a novice at gardening.
When caring for tree roots, don’t take any chances. Consult professionals as soon as possible. Tree care companies can help you properly care for your tree roots and even offer other tree services to ensure that your garden remains healthy and looks good all year long!
Work With the Pros
Just because you can’t see the roots of your trees doesn’t mean that you should neglect taking care of them. On the contrary, you should exert time and effort to ensure that the roots of your trees remain healthy for years.
If you live in Tampa, Florida, don’t forget to work with tree services, like Panorama Tree Care. We have years of experience in the industry providing different tree services — from caring for your tree roots to tree trimming and even stump removal.
You can reach us at (813) 234-9842 or check out our website to learn more about our tree services.
