- What are flat rooters?
- What problems can occur with shallow roots?
- Which conifer species form shallow roots?
Few conifers are naturally shallow-rooted, and their actual root depth and spread depend primarily on soil composition and compaction. Trees tend to root deeper in locations with nutrient-poor, dry soil than in those with humus-rich, moist soil. You can now read why the classification by root type is so important.
The spruce is a shallow root
What are flat rooters?
Plants are roughly divided into shallow and deep roots, with the former forming a densely branched root system that stays just below the surface and only reaches a little deep. The size of a tree is not an indication of the type of root it is: the giant primeval redwoods, for example, are flat-rooted, their root system often does not reach deeper than one to a maximum of three meters into the ground. However, the shallow root system often spreads out over a diameter of many meters.
What problems can occur with shallow roots?
A typical problem with shallow-rooted trees is their often low stability: as a result of a strong storm or after heavy rainfall, these species can quickly fall over and can then no longer be saved. Furthermore, flat-rooted plants often need a lot of distance to other plantings so that their roots can spread. Care should also be taken with plantings near house walls, walls and similar structures, as many a root system has already destroyed them. In contrast to many other plants, however, flat-rooted conifers do not develop root suckers.
Which conifer species form shallow roots?
Typical shallow-rooted conifer species are
- Spruce (Picea abies)
- Tree of Life (Thuja occidentalis)
However, this also means that both species can easily root in locations with a shallow layer of soil, such as a roof garden. It only becomes a problem when a tall solitaire is exposed to wind and other weather influences without protection. In this case, its stability is low. For stabilization, planting should be in a more sheltered location or mixed group planting, with the different species supporting each other. In order for this effect to be used, however, the required minimum distance must be maintained.
tips
While shallow-rooters should not be planted too close to houses and other structures, deep-rooters should not be planted over underground wires or pipes. With a bit of bad luck, the roots will destroy the sewage pipes or cables.