Getting to the root of the problem. (Question).

[Scottie]

Been in a garden today where 90% of the trees have been planted too deeply, the root collars were about 150mm under the soil on average. The gardener has been putting mulch around the trees every year causing the roots to go deeper.

 

When I dug the soil away to expose the root collar I was coming across roots that the tree had produced above the actual collar. Do these roots have a name and why do they grow?

 

It would be good to know so I can sound at least I know what I am talking about when I am asked what they are in the future.

 

Cheers

[RobRainford]

They are adventitous roots. 15cm is way too deep. It's just going to rot the trees. It doesn't fair well for them in the future. Properly formed roots will have a strong connection to the stem. Adventitous roots are like epicormic shoots. They aren't always 'properly' attached so are weak at the attachment points.

[Scottie]

Thanks for that. I thought they were called 'adventitous roots' but your description is spot on and I will use that for the future. Thanks again.