Restricted Root Zone

Description

A plant’s roots are as important as its leaves. Often, plants are installed in sites where the root zone will be greatly restricted as they grow. A restricted root zone will cause generalized tree stress and may lead to attack by insects or diseases. Restricted root zones also make plants more vulnerable to windthrow, especially when soils are saturated. Restricted root zones are often enclosed by concrete or asphalt which will reflect heat and light toward the tree, adding additional stress.

Management

If a planting site has a restricted root zone, select a plant that will be an approprite size for the site when it is fully grown. Use Utah State University’s treebrowser.org website to help select the proper tree for your site.