- The magnolia tree forms a deep root system in areas where the water table is low. The tree also grows a strong lateral root system with several sunken roots that grow out of the root collar of the trunk. As the tree ages, its root system heaves upward and forms a fluted base around the tree's trunk.
- The heaving of the tree's lateral root system and its fluted trunk can easily crack the foundation of a house, destroy a concrete patio, walkway or drive and cause the structure of a building to become distorted over time. Magnolias should never be planted close to anything that can be damaged by their aggressive root growth.
- The root system of the magnolia extends out a distance that is approximately 4 times the size of the tree's canopy system, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension website. If the tree's root system suffers disturbance, such as on a construction site, it may perish.
previous post
next post