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Sago Palm Root System – Are Sago Palm Roots Invasive?

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Sago palm is technically just a palm tree that needs to be well taken care of. If you have a sago palm tree in your garden, you must be concerned about its root system.

We will discuss the type of root system that these plants have and the factors that you should keep in mind while deciding the ideal root space for these trees. So without further ado, let’s read ahead to find out more about the sago palm root system.

Sago palm Root System Explained

The sago palm roots have a tendency to grow vertically and not much horizontally. These roots grow about 16 inches in diameter and more than 12 inches in depth. And they keep on growing in length as the plant keeps getting older. It would not be ideal to plant sago palms near a tank or pipes.

Sago palms are like most other palm trees. Their roots go deeper and deeper into the ground as the tree ages. These plants have deep roots when they are older. So you should make sure to allow enough root space for them.

The roots of sago plants tend to grow faster along the length than along the diameter. The roots grow more vertically than they do laterally. This allows the tree to draw water from deep underground.

The roots of these plants grow more than 12 inches in length and about 16 inches in diameter. The length keeps on getting taller as the trees mature.

And rest assured that these plants are not invasive. The sago palm plants do not have a tendency to damage other plants around them. They do have strong and heavy roots, but these roots mostly grow along the length. 

However, note that the sago plants are very slow growers. They take about 50 years to reach full maturity. And the roots follow suit.

The roots of these plants also grow rather slowly. So you will have plenty of time to fix any potential damage that the roots of sago plants may cause along the way of their growth.

Does Sago palm have deep roots?

Yes, sago palm trees have relatively deep roots. The roots of these plants keep growing vertically. The roots of sago palm trees tend to spread less laterally.

The Sago palm roots system is such that the roots of these trees are more aligned to grow vertically instead of horizontally.

So you will not have to worry about the plant invading other plants around it, as long as they are situated more than 16 inches away from the sago palm.

They will continue to go deeper into the grounds until the trees reach full maturity, which may take them as long as 50 years.

So you won’t have to worry about this plant invading other plants in your garden or damaging important structures, tanks, or pipes. You can fix the problem before the roots of the plant can grow into it.

How Deep Are Sago palm Roots?

The roots of sago palm trees are deeper than most other plants of the same category. And they keep on growing vertically as they continue to age. So you will need to keep an eye on their surrounding plants and other structures around them.

The roots of the sago palm grow more than 12 inches in depth. These palm trees keep on growing in depth until they reach maturity.

Note that the sago palm trees grow rather slowly. It takes them about 50 years to reach maturity. So until then, they will keep on growing vertically downward.

Do sago palms have shallow roots?

No, sago palms do not have shallow roots. The roots of these plants are, however, pretty long and go deep into the grounds. They do not draw as much moisture though.

Sago palm trees have a fibrous root system. The root system is made of thin roots spread out across a diameter of 16 inches. The branching roots of these plants grow from the stem and root ball of the sago palm.

The root ball of the sago palm trees also tends to grow into a large mass, which contributes further to the root system of these plants.

Do sago palms have long roots?

Yes, sago palms have long roots. These plants tend to grow long and deep into the ground. The roots of sago palm trees grow more than 12 inches.

The sago palm trees grow slowly. And these plants tend to grow fully mature at the age of 50. Until then, their roots keep on getting longer and longer.

So you can expect the roots of these plants to grow slowly but surely till they are much old. In fact, the roots will continue to grow until the plant is alive.

So it is advisable that you avoid planting these trees near a septic tank or pipes. The roots may find weak spots on these structures and grow along them to damage them further.

What is the root system of a sago palm?

Let’s now take a look at the root system of sago palm trees. Read ahead to dig deeper into the root system of these plants.

Deep:

The plants tend to grow both in length and in-depth of their roots as they mature. The sago palm trees take their sweet time to achieve maturity.

Some plants may take as long as 50 years to mature. Until then, the roots will keep on getting deeper.

As a matter of fact, the roots of sago plants keep on growing until they dry. Although the pace is much slower when they are old.

Non-invasive:

These plants are quite slow in growth. And their roots mostly grow vertically, instead of spread horizontally.

So you can avert any possible damage before the roots can cause them. This is why the roots of these plants are not considered invasive. They will grow slowly and allow you enough time to move any potential risk out of the way.

How big are Sago palm roots?

The sago palm roots are quite big, and they keep on getting bigger with age. The root mass varies with the size of the plant as well.

However, in general, the roots spread across a diameter of 16 inches. They go to a depth of at least 12 inches in the ground. This is the general ratio of the root mass of these plants. The size keeps getting bigger as the sago palm ages.

Are Sago palm Roots Invasive?

No, sago palm roots are not invasive. They are strong and heavy alright, but these roots grow mostly vertically. They do not spread across the horizon as much, so unless there is a plant as close as 16 inches, it is not likely that these roots will invade.

On the other hand, the sago palm roots are quite slow growers. It takes them a long while to grow to full maturity.

This allows the owners to avert any potential damage that they may cause. As a result, there is very little chance of invasion by the sago palm roots.

Can Sago palm roots damage foundation or pipes?

Yes, sago palm roots may damage foundation and pipes, but it is highly unlikely. These plants tend to grow less horizontally and more vertically.

So they are less likely to damage any pipes, foundation, or even other plants for that matter unless they are placed very close to those structures.

In addition, these plants are quite slow in their growth. So you can remove any potential damage out of the way while they keep growing.

It would not be ideal to plant a sago palm near a house or other establishment as it does not allow the roots to grow out to their full potential.

Do Sago palm spread or multiply?

Sago plants can multiply. These plants are also ideally transplanted. You can plant these trees using stem cuttings and branches.

You can multiply sago palm trees by wiggling the pup until the pup comes off. You may also cut it around the base when it’s narrow.

Then you will have to clip off the leaves or roots of the parent plant on the pup of the sago palm. Then you will have to let it sit for a week, then plant the pup in a pot.

Final Thoughts

Sago palm plants have a deep and non-invasive root system. The roots are slow to grow, much like most other palm trees. So you can get any potential damage out of the way of the roots. The roots keep getting deeper until the tree reaches full maturity around the age of 50.

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