On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 10:48:59 GMT, "Jay Casey"
wrote:

If a tree is growing/standing at a 45degree angle,
how would its root system be like?

Would it be symmetric underground?
Or would it be unbalanced mirroring the slant of the trunk?
Or would it be unbalanced reverse-mirroring the slant of the trunk?

Thanks, in advance, for your help.


Tree roots need to be able to get both water and air to survive. In
ideal conditions, they would create a mat in a circle that would be in
the top 18" to 2' of soil and extend as much as 3 times the height of
the tree in every direction. In the real world, they will go where
they can. Sometimes this might be a deep crevice on one side; other
times it might be limited to 6" deep or so because of shallow soil,
compaction, or rocks. If you live at the edge of a cliff, obviously
there would be no roots beyond the cliff face. If the roots have been
severed for construction, they may never regrow to the extent they
would have been in a natura, undeveloped setting.

But the lean of the trunk would have little or no impact on the extent
of the root system. It might be a bit thicker on the side away from
the lean, because more force is needed on that side to hold the tree
up.

Keith Babberney
ISA Certified Arborist
For more info about the International Society of Arboriculture, please visit http://www.isa-arbor.com/home.asp.
For consumer info about tree care, visit http://www.treesaregood.com/