8 - Root Growth - Click on image to enlarge

This is me in S central B.C. Two growing seasons after this one year old Lodgepole Pine container stock seedling was planted in a small mound created by the VH Mulcher. Finally we are able to get root growth to match top growth in a reasonable period of time. Notice the stony ground, this is not severe for the VH Mulcher. I try and get out often to see how some of our earlier plantations are performing. The only way to learn is to dig up some trees and take a look. There are many factors that affect root growth which are specific to the site on which they are growing. Until we are provided with adequate research, we must do our own less formal analysis if we are to reach a greater understanding of the ways to achieve early, more rapid growth. This photo was courteously provided by Dave Horne, B.C. Ministry of Forests.