Oak trees change their fine roots and "energize" soil microbes by supplying them with a cocktail of small organic compounds, ...

Homeowners should maintain roots to promote trees’ health: plant at the correct depth, add the right amount of soil and remove root sprouts.

Homeowners should maintain roots to promote trees’ health: plant at the correct depth, add the right amount of soil and remove root sprouts.

Approximately 75% of a tree’s root system is in the top 18 inches of soil. That is amazing. The roots of a tree can extend horizontally 3 times the distance of the drip line.

Some tree species form colonies from a single root system. A single root system of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) can grow into a grove of its own.

But that goes for almost every tree, including many of our desert trees, such as acacia and mesquite. If given the chance, bay laurel will have an invasive root system.

Follow a few basic rules if you plan to landscape around tree root systems. Failing to do so may damage or even cause death of certain trees. One’s objective should be to prevent physical root ...

Roots before branches Planting depth is crucial to the success of the tree; put it in too low or too high and the tree will suffer, unable to root out enough to support its 100-plus-year lifespan.

Texas homeowners should maintain roots to promote trees’ health: plant at the correct depth, add the right amount of soil and remove root sprouts.

COURTESY A Western boxelder bug is shown feeding on decaying fruit. COURTESY Bees are attracted to the blooms of rosemary bushes. COURTESY Western boxelder bugs can be a nuisance in fruit trees.

Armillaria root rot also goes by the common names mushroom root rot, shoestring root rot, and honey mushroom rot. This disease decays the root system of many woody trees and shrubs. Need a break?

The cottonwood and boxelder trees are mentioned by name in those ordinances, but these ordinances are written with a broad stroke that could include almost any fruit producing tree.