Healthy roots

JeffH

Do all trees have white succulent roots when they are healthy?

In other words, if I examine the roots of a tree and don't find any white ones, does that mean the roots are rotting from overwatering? Or do some species lack white roots even when healthy?

For example, when I examine my maples I am seeing white roots growing. But when I check my juniper's roots, I am seeing roots that look reddish, with little white color. Is this a sign that I am overwatering the juniper, or do they just not have the same fleshy roots that the maples have?

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Brent

Jeff

Red roots for junipers are perfectly normal. Nearly all woody plants will have darker roots as the roots age, but there are exceptions here too: Buxus species have white roots even when massive. Some species even have black roots (Diospyros or persimmon, Corokia). Nearly all healthy roots will have a very thin outer skin which when scraped lightly with your fingernail will reveal white or lighter wood underneath. Healthy roots will have clearly bright and vibrant color under this skin. Dead roots will be brown underneath and look like wet dead wood.

For many species, only the growing tips are white, and the length of the white tip varies by species, nutrition and even the time of the year. Most people don't examine roots nearly enough. Nurseryman make it a regular practice to tip a can over and gently knock out the rootball to examine the roots. When you make a habit of doing this, you will gain a lot of experience of what to look for in a healthy rootball.

Brent
EvergreenGardenworks.com
see our blog at http://BonsaiNurseryman.typepad.com

Alasdair

Don't just rely on your eyes, your nose can also tell you if roots are rotting. A healthy root ball will smell pleasent (in a weird kinda 'i like bonsai' sort of way) but rotten roots smell really bad, they're an assault on the nostrils.

Another thing to look for is plenty of fine, hair like roots. These are the ones that do the business and are the first to disappear if rot sets in.

Al

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