Strengthening our Community Tree Canopy Through Education Module #6: Root Systems of Trees & Palms Laura Sanagorski, Environmental Horticulture Extension Faculty

Strengthening Our Community Tree Canopy 2012 Urban Forestry Series This series is a part of a project titled “Strengthening Our Community Tree Canopy Through Education”. This project is made possible by a grant through the 2011 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Florida Forest Service.

Root Systems – Trees & Palms

Root Zone of Root Hairs Zone of Elongation Apical Meristem Root Cap International Society of Arboriculture, International Society of Arboriculture, Bugwood.org

Healthy root systems grow away from trunk Photo: UF Laura Sanagorski Broadleaf tree roots continue to increase in diameter

Facts About Roots  Most trees don’t have tap roots  Roots grow well beyond dripline  Damaging roots on one side of a tree can cause damage to the canopy on that side  Root pruning stimulates growth near the cuts Andrew Koeser, International Society of Arboriculture, Bugwood.org

Facts About Roots  Circling roots do not continue to circle once planted in the landscape  Most roots are in the top 3’ of soil with the majority in the very top International Society of Arboriculture, International Society of Arboriculture, Bugwood.org

Photo: UF Laura Sanagorski Palm Roots Palm tree roots do not increase in diameter Continuous generation, mostly primary and secondary roots that live ~ 3 years ROOT INITIATION ZONE

Palm Roots Photos: UF Laura Sanagorski

Palm Root Regeneration Species Root-stub length (inches) Avg. no. of new roots Species < Cocos nucifera Cocos nucifera Phoenix reclinata Phoenix reclinata Roystonea regia Roystonea regia Sabal palmetto Sabal palmetto Syagrus romanzoffiana Syagrus romanzoffiana Washingtonia robusta Washingtonia robusta Table 1. Average percentage of cut roots branching in four different root- length classes.- From Broschat and Donselman (1984; 1990).

Strengthening our Community Tree Canopy Through Education Module #6: Root Systems of Trees & Palms Laura Sanagorski, Environmental Horticulture Extension Faculty