Gardening Jargon – Root Ball

Thanks for posting these definitions. I’m guilty too of sometimes using specialized words or jargon in my writing without taking the time to define them, so posts like this help people out.

I’d also mention on the subject of root balls that when one gets a new potted plant and is about to transplant it, it is a good idea to check the root ball for circling or girdling roots. If they are found after one has bought the plant and gotten it home, one can sometimes prune off these roots with a pair of scissors or pruners. If there are roots circling the trunk or main stem of the plant where the stem transitions into the root ball, it is best to just throw that plant away or take it back for a refund if the store allows for them. Gridling roots are nothing but trouble and cause all sorts of problems for the rest of the plant’s life. Sometimes, they wind up even shortening its life.