Features of the cherry root system

One of the most unpretentious plants in the middle lane, and throughout Central Russia, is cherry. With proper planting, proper care, it gives an unprecedented harvest. In order to understand the planting rules, you need to know the characteristics of the cherry root system.

A cherry tree or shrub has a tap-type root system. The underground part of the cherry contains horizontal, vertical roots. The basis is made up of skeletal roots, from which all other branches come, fibrous small roots. It is noteworthy that there are not so many fibrous roots, but more than those of an apple and a pear, for example. The place where the roots end, the stem part begins, is called the root collar. Horizontal rhizomes of common cherry spread from the root collar to the sides by 30-35 centimeters and creep along the radius around the main root. Therefore, it must be borne in mind that the depth of tillage at the trunk should be minimal.

Not all varieties produce abundant root growth. There are conventionally three groups of cherry trees.

• On seed stocks. Do not give underground shoots.
• On clonal rootstocks. They form shoots in small quantities.
• Own-rooted... It is this group of trees that gives a large root growth.

Treelike varieties have greater root proliferation than bushy varieties. For example, such varieties as Malinovka, Molodezhnaya, Chernokorka, Rastorguevka, Minx, Crimson, Generous, give the most shoots.

Trees with cherry stock will have a more extensive root system than wild cherry or antipka seedlings. In addition, the roots of seedlings sit deeper than those of self-rooted plants.

The main bunch of the root system of the tree is at a depth of 65 centimeters, and extends beyond the radius of the crown as a whole. And on poor, unfertilized soils, the depth is less - just over 30 centimeters. It is imperative to know this, in principle, it is not recommended to dig up a young plant because of the risk of damage to the roots. For the same reason, we advise you to carefully loosen the soil under 4-5 year old seedlings. The highest root density is concentrated at the base. It is they that grow sharply in breadth. In some varieties of adult cherries, branches grow from buds in appendages on the horizontal part of the roots to a soil length of 20 centimeters.

Therefore, the plant has so many shoots: but it must be removed along with the roots.... The depth of the vertical roots is 2-2.5 meters. At their ends are fibrous roots, which are designed to absorb moisture from the soil. But the main bunch of rhizomes sits in a 40-centimeter layer, so it is worth carefully working the soil under the cherry tree. Mechanical damage to the roots of a seedling leads to the rapid formation of adventitious buds, the formation of shoots, which gradually weakens the bush, and it, in turn, bears little fruit. Therefore, it is necessary to create optimal conditions for the growth and development of the bush.

The underground part of the fruit crop is arranged in tiers... Conventionally, the entire structure of the root system can be divided into several parts.Vertical rhizomes, which are entrusted with the main function of nutrition: they support the whole plant, they absorb moisture, it is these roots that distribute nutrients throughout the plant. The depth is 1.5-2 meters. Horizontal rhizomes. They accumulate nutrients, and also all microbiological processes take place. The depth of their germination is 40 centimeters.

If the horizontal and vertical processes of the roots can be called the skeletal parts of the entire system, then semi-skeletal roots still depart from them, where fibrous roots then germinate. Some cherry varieties have root suckers on horizontal branches, which experienced gardeners use as rootstock or propagation for planting. Cherries do not have a particularly complex root system.