How trees grow – Part 5 (Roots)
Roots are the first thing to start growing in springtime. New fiborous roots start sprouting utilising the same meristems as buds. They grow from the tips of exisiting roots in the same sort of fashion as a branch. Roots on a tree do not necessarily go down very deep but in open land they can reach outwards as far as the tree’s height upwards. They are vitally important to a tree as they provide it with water and nutrients.
It is a myth that roots grow deep into the ground. A redwood’s roots for example travel hardly any distance deeply into the earth and focus all their energy and reaching outwards to interlock with other tree’s roots. The redwoods hold each other up in this fashion and with this combined strength can reach enormous proportions.
