Woody Roots

Woody roots are organs that:
1. Anchor the tree.
2. Transport free water and substances dissolved in it.
3. Store energy reserves and hold water.
4. Make substances essential for the life of the tree.

Many different types of trees in different parts of the world, in different soils, have different patterns of growth of woody roots.  Here are a few examples.

Source SHIGO TREE BASICS pg 22.

Above:  Two trunks connected by way of the woody roots.  Connections!

A Pine tree with deep woody roots - Texas (Source SHIGO 2002 CD's)

Above:  Major Anatomy features which differ between woody root and woody stem.  This is a sample of a honey locust a diffuse porous tree.

Here we have a woody stem [above] and a woody root [below] partially stained with I²KI.  The darker the staining - the more starch stored.

Twisted woody roots.

Source SHIGO 2002 CD's

The target for pruning woody roots is different than that of woody stems with branch collars.

To prune a woody root,  use a sharp tool and make a cut like the end of a straw.  Straight across.  The woody roots do not have branch collars.  Their anatomy is a little different than that of the stem.

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