It is medically proven that mangoes can have different health benefits which is why most households have mango trees in their front yard or backyard. But before growing mango trees in your yard, you will need some knowledge on harvesting mangoes and taking care of the trees. One of the important things is to understand the root system of the mango trees.
Therefore, in this article, we are going to discuss the root system of mango and whether the mango tree roots are invasive or not.
Mango root system explained
Instead of having a complicated root system, mango roots are a collection of invasive taproots, that have secondary and tertiary deep root systems. One root connects the expanding roots to the main section of the plant while the roots themselves extend out and produce tiny roots known as rootlets.
The Mango root system is a combination of taproots which consists of primary, secondary and tertiary roots. Mainly the mango root system has thick, thin and cylindrical-shaped roots. The roots are not shallow but their deep, as well as the roots, are invasive and wild. The root system is also known as the fibrous root system because of its sturdiness.
The primary root is a single root that grows from the plant and has a thick and cylindrical structure. The primary root absorbs all the minerals and nutrients from the upper part of the soil for the plants. The secondary roots grow from the primary roots and can grow up to 5 to 6 feet.
The secondary roots grow sidewards and widely so that they can absorb the nutrients and minerals from the upper part of the soil. The tertiary roots grow from the secondary roots and can grow up to 8 to 12 feet. The tertiary roots are much thinner than the secondary roots and absorb the nutrients and minerals from the lower part of the soil.
In addition, at the end of the tertiary roots, there is a hair-like root structure which is known as rootlets. Mango roots develop sideways and spread out in addition to entering the soil deeply, which is a trait of taproots, to take up water and mineral nutrients from the soil. The top section of the tree is given excellent stability by this type of root structure, which also aids in stabilizing tall trees. Mango tree roots are spreading and are a food source for wildlife.
Carbohydrates, which are crucial for the expansion and survival of the plant, are stored by the roots. The taproot structure, that is spreading, may resemble a fibrous root structure, however, these taproots develop sideways on the top section of the roots to obtain water and mineral nutrients from the top portion.
Bowen mango tree:
Bowen mango tree root system has the structure of a taproot system. The taproot system consists of primary, secondary and tertiary root systems. Basically, the secondary and the tertiary root system grows from the primary root. The root system of the bowen mango tree is invasive and fibrous. The roots can grow longer than 15 feet in length. In addition, the taproots are widely spreading and they multiply in the soil in order to absorb minerals and nutrients. Well, if you want to plant a Bowen mango tree then make sure you take care of it properly so that it has a healthy root system.
Dwarf mango tree:
The dwarf mango tree has the same taproot system as the other mango trees. However, the height of the tree is slightly smaller which is why it is called a dwarf mango tree. In addition, the roots of the dwarf mango tree are also slightly smaller than any other mango tree roots. But the taproots of the dwarf mango tree is similar to the other trees which consist of a primary, secondary and tertiary root system.
Does Mango have deep roots?
The roots of mango may reach a height of more than 20 feet. The tap roots, also known as secondary roots, found in the majority of mango varieties allow them to grow longer and penetrate deeper. The primary roots of mango are often quite widespread, whereas the lateral roots are typically deep. The primary root has a cylindrical shape as well as it is thick and is also known as the primary root. The secondary and tertiary taproot system grows from this primary root and spreads deeper into the soil.
Different types of roots, including taproots, deep roots, and others, make up the mango’s root system. The secondary roots mostly develop from the primary roots and penetrate the soil further. The tertiary roots grow these taproots and grow deeper into the soil. In addition, the tertiary roots have a thin structure and penetrate deeper into the soil. Also, at the end of tertiary roots, there is a hair-like structure that is known as rootlets.
As we can see, the primary root of many have different sub-parts of the root system which grows more than 20 feet in length, therefore, it can be said that mango does have deep roots.
How Deep Are Mango Roots?
The roots of the mango can grow deeper into the soil. As the mango root system has different sub-parts known as secondary or tertiary root systems which is why they can grow more than 20 feet in length.
Basically, the mango root system is divided into three parts. The primary root system, the secondary root system and the tertiary root system. The primary root is basically a single root and it has a thick and cylindrical main root from where the other root system arises. The secondary root system grows sideways in order to absorb necessary nutrients from the soil. The secondary root systems are much thinner and penetrate deeper into the soil.
Afterwards, the tertiary root system arises from the secondary root system. The tertiary root system is thinner and can grow up to 8 to 9 feet in length.The tertiary root system also grows sideways and widely in order to absorb the nutrients from the deeper part of the soil. In addition, this deeper taproot system balances the mango tree and helps to stabilize the tree. Apart from having deeper roots, the mango tree does have a fibrous root system as well as they are also invasive.
Can Mango roots damage the foundation or pipes?
Yes, the mango roots can damage the foundation or pipes as it has a wild and invasive root system. Also, to note that the mango roots are also known as fibrous root systems, which means the roots are certainly sturdy and can damage the pipes or foundations.
The mango root system is both wild, invasive and fibrous. In addition, because of the widespread roots, there is a risk that the roots of mangoes can damage the pipes or foundations nearby. The mango roots can grow more than 20 feet in length which is why any sort of foundation or pipes in a 30 feet area of mango is at risk of being damaged by its roots system.
The mango root system is more sturdy than most other plants. That means the roots are very strong or sturdy. So, it can grow much longer and can damage any sort of pipes or foundations nearby. However, if you take care of the mango tree and trim it properly then the roots will have a healthy root system. As a result, it won’t be able to destroy the pipes or foundations of your house.
Do Mango roots spread or multiply?
As the roots of the mango are invasive and wild, therefore, the roots can definitely spread or multiply. The root system of the mango tree consists of three parts which are the primary root system, secondary root system and tertiary root system. The secondary root system grows the primary and spreads widely. As the plant needs necessary nutrients from the upper side of the soil, therefore, the secondary roots do spread and multiply.
The tertiary roots grow from the secondary roots and they also absorb the necessary nutrients from the deeper part of the soil. The tertiary roots penetrate to the deeper part of the soil and then spread widely. The spreading roots then multiply in order to cover more areas and absorb more necessary nutrients for the plants.
At the tip of the tertiary roots, there is a hair-like root structure known as rootlets that helps to absorb water for the plant. As we can see the root system of the mango plant grows laterally and widely, therefore, it can be said that the roots of the mango do spread and multiply.
Final Thoughts:
The root system of a mango tree consists of three parts which are primary, secondary and tertiary roots. The roots are invasive, wide and fibrous which is why they are also called aggressive roots. The roots are widely spreading and can grow up to more than 20 feet under the soil.