Invading Roots - Ask Extension
Hi MSU Extension, A Birmingham home has this weird root growth on top of decomposed mulch. The owner's complaint was that in July the perennials colla...
Knowledgebase
Invading Roots #785613
Asked March 30, 2022, 8:52 PM EDT
Hi MSU Extension, A Birmingham home has this weird root growth on top of decomposed mulch. The owner's complaint was that in July the perennials collapse, just fall on the ground like they are not getting enough water. We considered deer, the irrigation system, the dog and more were possibilities for this unusual plant drop but one outstanding thing was the soil surface was covered with fine textured roots that you could pull up. The roots are growing over perennials that have not emerged yet (Hosta, Lenten rose, fern, sweet woodruff all in separate locations) and also we see roots where there are not any plants, for example: under the faucet (see attached image). Any ideas on what this could be?
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
Thanks for the question. Do you know the planting history where these roots are? Were there any sort of trees/shrubs/perennials or ground covers where these roots are showing up now?
It's challenging to ID what plant these belong to just based on the roots. I am struggling to place exactly where these are showing up in the the third picture, one possibility is that these are shallow roots from the nearby shrubs or trees.
I am curious to know the planting history, and if there is a plant under that grey pot (and what kind) in the second picture. These could be helpful clues.
Thank you for using Ask Extension!
It's challenging to ID what plant these belong to just based on the roots. I am struggling to place exactly where these are showing up in the the third picture, one possibility is that these are shallow roots from the nearby shrubs or trees.
I am curious to know the planting history, and if there is a plant under that grey pot (and what kind) in the second picture. These could be helpful clues.
Thank you for using Ask Extension!
Hi Extension, I have attached a planting plan done in 2017. You will see a variety of perennials, shrubs and 2 red maples and I think a Norway maple in the Back Garden E. Smaller trees include a serviceberry, lilac tree, rose of sharon and a dogwood.
I think there is a beech.
I can usually tell when Maple roots are taking over.
What they have here are fine lacy roots laying on the surface of the soil and can be pulled up easily and they fall apart like moss. These roots cover the garden beds in the entire back yard. I suppose the maple roots could reach all of these areas but I have never seen tree roots that look so light and lacey that are easily separated growing on the surface.
Under the grey pot near the hose bibb, there were 3 azaleas that are now gone.
They typically add mulch every year and have a gardener, so a relatively high level of maintenance. I have worked with this family on and off since 2013 so know the garden fairly well. I've always told them they are not watering enough but after all the rain we had last year, I am wondering if the plant dehydration is caused by something else. One main complaint was that the perennials are flaccid and laying on the ground mid summer and fall and many not surviving.
They currently do not spray the lawn or fertilize (as far as I know) because they have a dog. The lawn is very spotty with bare spots. I suggested that they should consult a lawn service thinking they might have grubs. They do have japanese beetle damage mid summer.
I could send a sample of the roots, would that help? Seems like they would rake up fairly easily.
Joane Slusky, PLA
Landscape Architect
Juno solutions, LLC
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On April 1, 2022 10:04 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
These roots could be from the yews in the beds and possibly there are also lingering azalea roots. I have some yews and they do tend to have shallow roots that are present in the beds near them (photo attached.)
The flopping could be caused by a few things - over watering, underwatering, soil fertility or some species just have a tendency to flop when they get too big. We see this with unstaked species such as lilies that have heavy flowers and tend to flop just as they hit peak bloom.
If these plants have been in the space for a while, dividing the perennials could help with the flopping over. Maybe they have gotten to a point where some have become overgrown clumps and a division may help. Other ideas are to cut back the floppier species early in the summer (sort of "stunt" them), or stake/cage them. More info here: https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/agent-articles/perennials/floppy-perennials.html
A soil test could also be enlightening to understand what the current fertility is. Based on the results, it may be that some additional fertilizer is needed. More information here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/files/Fertilizing_Established_Perennials_Finneran.pdf
More information on soil testing here: https://homesoiltest.msu.edu/
The flopping could be caused by a few things - over watering, underwatering, soil fertility or some species just have a tendency to flop when they get too big. We see this with unstaked species such as lilies that have heavy flowers and tend to flop just as they hit peak bloom.
If these plants have been in the space for a while, dividing the perennials could help with the flopping over. Maybe they have gotten to a point where some have become overgrown clumps and a division may help. Other ideas are to cut back the floppier species early in the summer (sort of "stunt" them), or stake/cage them. More info here: https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/agent-articles/perennials/floppy-perennials.html
A soil test could also be enlightening to understand what the current fertility is. Based on the results, it may be that some additional fertilizer is needed. More information here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/files/Fertilizing_Established_Perennials_Finneran.pdf
More information on soil testing here: https://homesoiltest.msu.edu/
