Raspberry root system: structure and care
The growth and development of plants primarily depends on the state of their root system... The strength of the roots, their health allows fruit shrubs to survive in difficult climatic conditions. Each type of horticultural crops has different features of the structure of rhizomes, their development. Knowledge about them will allow you to choose those methods of growing shrubs that will contribute to the flowering and active fruiting of the plant.
When gardeners begin to dig up old raspberry bushes, they pay attention to the rhizome of the bush. It connects young shoots with old plants, entangling the entire area with its strong twists. It is not for nothing that in neglected gardens, raspberries fill the entire space like a weed. Knowing the peculiarities of the development of the root of the fruit culture, you can direct its growth and development in the right direction.
Content:
- Raspberry root system: description, location, features
- Organization of proper care for the roots of the berry bush
- What can damage raspberry roots, how to fix it
Raspberry root system: description, location, features
The sequence of development of the underground part of the raspberry is as follows:
- After planting, the seedling has a stem and rhizome, on which, after a year, replacement shoots grow from the buds.
- Having turned into an independent plant, the shoots do not break with their parents. They are firmly associated with them by the root system.
- If the aboveground part raspberries after picking berries begins to die, then the rhizomes do not die, giving new shoots.
- Every spring, offspring appear from buds on horizontal roots that diverge in length by more than three meters. They receive food from the mother bush.
- After the death of the bush, there is a separation between the children. They each form their own separate family.
It can be concluded that the root system of a perennial raspberry plant lives longer, and aerial shoots live for one to two years. Both the rhizome of the plant and the adventitious roots are located in the ground, on which a number of axillary and adventitious buds are located.
The complexity of the raspberry root system allows the perennial shrub to survive in difficult conditions.
It is from them that the daughter plants of the shrub develop. The length and vigor of raspberry tree rhizomes depends on the plant variety. They are located on the surface, not deeper than eighty centimeters.
Organization of proper care for the roots of the berry bush
In order for the rhizomes of the berry bush to constantly supply the aerial part with nutrients, it is necessary:
- Loosen the ground around the plantings. The procedure should be carried out taking into account the fact that the roots lie close to the surface. Therefore, the hoe must be worked carefully, not going deeper than fifteen centimeters. Loosening destroys the crust that appears on the soil as a result of irrigation or rain. It also relieves weeding.
- For the preservation of the root system, it is better to sprinkle the ground around the bushes with mulch from fresh compost, straw. Thanks to mulching for the roots, moisture will remain in the ground, and pathogenic fungi will not penetrate inside.
- The concern of many gardeners is to deal with roots that become unnecessary, unnecessary.
- The growth of rhizomes will not give a sheet of iron or tin, which can be dug around the perimeter to a depth of ten centimeters. In this case, the roots remain in the perimeter of their plant, which will bear fruit better.
- Planting near raspberries saves from overgrown roots garlic or beans, as well as the introduction of nitrogen fertilization into the soil.
- During the summer, root suckers, if not used for reproduction, are removed up to five times.
By stimulating or oppressing the raspberry root system, gardeners prevent the raspberry plantings from growing, which begin to play the role of a weed. And this leads to a decrease in the quality of berries, a deterioration in their appearance.
What can damage raspberry roots, how to fix it
Very often, damage and diseases of the root system of the berry bush lead to the underdevelopment of the plant:
- The bacteria cause tuber-like growths on the roots. From their influence, the leaves begin to turn yellow, the fruits wither. This can be avoided by carefully examining the seedlings before planting. The growths are removed, and the affected areas are treated with a solution of copper sulfate.
- Fungi can also attack the roots of a plant, causing it to die. You can save the bushes by digging them up, rinsing the roots, and planting them in a new location. And the prevention of fungal diseases is considered spraying plants with Bordeaux liquid.
Root system raspberries close attention must be paid, then the shrub will bring stable yields of delicious aromatic berries.
More information can be found in the video:
I don't dig up old roots. After winter, I break off dry shoots, and leave the young ones. While the bushes have not yet grown, I weed the raspberries to give the roots air, I remove the weeds in one. I did not have to deal with the fungus of the root system, since my variety is ordinary, the simplest.
Our raspberries grow on the site in the same way as all other gardeners, but we periodically weed new shoots. Therefore, the borders of the raspberry tree hardly change.