North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Lee Reich <leeareich@gmail.com>]

I thought that the drip line myth was put to rest years ago. Yes, Jerry, tree 
roots do generally extend well beyond their drip line, twice as far or more, 
depending on soil conditions. But that doesn’t mean that all feeder roots are 
out that far. Some will also be developing within the drip line. Most feeder 
roots, by the way, are in the surface areas of soil where there is best 
aeration, most biological activity, and most organic matter (all three go 
hand in hand).

Lee Reich, PhD
Come visit my farmden at  http://www.leereich.com/blog 
<http://www.leereich.com/blog>
http://leereich.com/ <http://leereich.com/>

Books by Lee Reich:
A Northeast Gardener's Year
The Pruning Book
Weedless Gardening
Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden
Landscaping with Fruit
Grow Fruit Naturally

> On May 19, 2015, at 9:57 AM, Jerry Lehman via nafex 
> <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Add organic spot  mulch generously around each tree at least to the drip 
> line every year.
> 
> 
> 1st, keep in mind I tend to be agnostic. But I question this advice of 
> fertilizing around the drip line. I have many tall trees on my 84 farm and 
> I have a subsoiler. Also my Gardens are well beyond the drip line of many 
> trees such as oak and Osage orange. I can tell you unequivocally that the 
> roots extend well beyond the drip line, therefore I am agnostic about the 
> common theory to fertilize around the drip line. Also keep in mind that the 
> nourishment taken in by roots is done so at the growing tip and the roots 
> for example 1 inch in diameter and greater are nothing but transportation 
> vessels for the nourishment's the root tips absorb. Therefore my cautious 
> conclusion is most of the nutrition as absorbed by the root systems 
> extending beyond the drip line. Any arguments/discussion?
> 
> Jerry
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