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Garden Notes
Feeder Roots

Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening term feeder roots. Plants have two kinds of roots: anchor roots that hold the plant to the ground, and feeder roots that get nutrients from the soil. Feeder roots usually grow in the top few inches of the soil. Feeder roots are very small and spread in the soil like a spider web around the plant. The soil under a tree is full of feeder roots for that tree. If you dig under the tree you are affecting the feeder roots.

Related Videos:
How Trees Work
Encouraging Tree Feeder Root Growth

Related Resource:
Healthy Roots and Healthy Trees
Understanding Plant Roots

March 20, 2021
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  • Home
  • Watch
    • TV Schedule
    • Full Episodes Online
    • How-to and Informational
    • Questions and Answers
    • This Week in the Garden
    • Garden Notes
  • Garden Topic Collections
    • Apple Trees: How-to and Information
    • Peach Trees: How-to and Information
    • Tomatoes: How-to and Information
    • Square Foot Garden Blog
  • Resources
    • Soil Testing
    • Extension Publications
    • Gardening Resources
    • Blogs
    • Organic Gardening
    • Articles
    • Privacy
  • Guests
  • Contact Us
    • Ask a Gardening Gardening Question
  • Search