NATURE / OUTDOORS
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10/5/07
Critical Root Zone
Laytonsville, MD
Submitted By: Mark Burchick
Central Maryland is in a drought
and as of 10/5/07 BWI Airport
states that we are -9.21 inches
below the normal precipitation
amounts for this growing season.
I was going to a job site today
and noticed a hedge row of
sawtooth oak in a lawn area that
distinctively showed drought
stress and subsequent root zone.
In order for the trees to
respire (evapotranspiration)
they require the uptake of water
from the soil. As the turf
competes within the trees root
zone, it does not fare as
well as the adjacent turf beyond
the tree's root zone. The
color change in the turf was
quite obvious.
In the first photo, I've
highlighted in yellow, the
extent of fibrous tree roots
that are more or less
consistent with the canopy drip
line of the tree, and which is
competing with the turf.
10/5/07
