Understanding Roots Exploring Plants Underground 11 16 15

Presented as part of the " Focus on Sustainability" webinar series on November 16, 2015 by Robert Kourik.
In this webinar based upon Robert Kourik’s two books on the subject, Understanding Roots: Exploring Plants Underground uncovers one of the greatest mysteries below the soil surface―the secret lives and magical workings of the roots that move and grow invisibly beneath our feet.
Roots do more than just keep a plant from falling over: they gather water and nutrients, exude wondrous elixirs to create good soil, make friends with microbes and fungi, communicate with other roots, and adapt themselves to all manner of soils, winds, and climates, nourishing and sustaining our gardens, lawns, and woodlands.
During the presentation, Kourik will share enchanting and revealing root drawings, from prairies, grasslands, and deserts, as well as drawings based on excavations of vegetable, fruit, nut, and ornamental tree roots. Through detailed illustrations, Kourik will describe how roots work their magic to improve soil nutrients and will discuss soil microbes and their mysterious relationship to roots. This presentation will also explore the question of whether deep roots really gather more unique nutrients than shallow roots. Kourik will explain the latest research about the mysteries of mycorrhizal (good fungal) association. Practical tips will provide guidance on the use of inputs such as fertilizer, compost, water, and mulch to help plants flourish.
Robert Kourik credits the School of Hard Knocks for much of his early life skills training (and numerous continuing-education credits). He learned various horticulture-related skills from the inside-out by working with clients throughout California and the rest of the country for over 25 years. During that time Kourik took on design projects of all sizes, shapes and textures-water gardens, paths and patios, elegant arbors, habitat gardens, innovative home playgrounds, outdoor barbecue areas, deer-resistant gardens and low-profile, attractive deer fences, to name just a few. In the late 1970s, with only a high school diploma, Kourik wrote a landscape book which has become a classic in its field and helped to define the genera of gardening now known as edible landscaping. Kourik believes that it was a lack of formal college training in horticulture that allowed him to envision and interpret this new interdisciplinary and original approach to gardening and landscaping. Throughout his career, Kourik has focused primarily on organic, natural, sustainable, integrated systems, permaculture and appropriate horticulture methods. Kourik is the author of several books including: Designing and Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally; Roots Demystified; Drip Irrigation for Every Landscape and all Climates; and just published, Understanding Roots. Robert writes and interacts with landscapes in the San Francisco Bay area in California.
This presentation is part of the Webinar Series "A Focus on Sustainability" prepared for landscape professionals and the public. The series is being presented through collaboration of the Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA), the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council (CCLC), the Midwest Ecological Landscape Alliance (MELA), & EcoLandscape California (ELC). Known regionally for their quality education programs, these organizations are working cooperatively to share knowledge and encourage conversations with landscape professionals from around the country and the globe.

[@brianpalmer967]

This is an amazing presentation. I'm not sure why this information is not more commonly talked about. Thank you for this presentation!

[@kooale]

Wildly educational & informative. THANKS, a lot. Greetings from Wisconsin.

[@jaymzgaetz2006]

For the record here in oregon food for lane county more than tripled its annual yield at the community gardens instantly by implementing compost tea under the guidance of mary fix of rainsong winery in cheshire.

[@ErHa-vl7ip]

Not sure if this is related, just learned about structural soil. From Wikipedia: "Structural Soil is a medium that can be compacted to pavement design and installation requirements while permitting root growth. It is a mixture of gap-graded gravels, clay loam, and a hydrogel stabilizing agent to keep the mixture from separating. It provides an integrated, root penetrable, high strength pavement system that shifts design away from individual tree pits." In short, it's used to plant street trees.

[@janesmith167]

Very informative. Thank you :)

[@jothishahemajothi735]

Very inspection deee

[@enochpatrick4498]

instablaster

[@blakespower]

so what are you saying we should water trees outside the drip line?

[@gtavtheavengergunnerlegend3340]

Wow. Good info. I have a question. I planted 2 rows of blueberries 8 in each row in a straight line. This year I laid down 2 wide strips of black plastic on each side of the blueberries because I was tires of mowing and weed eating around that area. This year they didn't produce blueberries. Could I have killed the fungal/bacteria system that cut off nutrients to the blueberries? I did fertilize and they grew exceptionally well with over 2 ft of growth just no berries. I had flowers and bees and different varieties but no fruit. Any idea??

[@healthdanab4421]

Damn

[@patsypotter6100]

Mulch ring is not a good idea since first it’s only temporary and folks forget to flatten it out. And second suffocated Roots from below inevitably grow up into above ground Circle mound. Remember, mulching flat is where it’s at.

[@rochrich1223]

One technique for protecting the roots of valuable trees is to put down landscaping cloth and then putting a thick layer of material. There may be sub-soil coming out of an excavation, there may be gravel needed at the end of the project, maybe wood chips from the city....

[@blackpage716]

Landscaping cloth is garbage.

[@jothishahemajothi735]

Tuberous ( roots) (asparagus and sweet potato) can be for vegative propagition

[@gtavtheavengergunnerlegend3340]

Cardboard boxes are effective too and can create a natural edge

[@christopherstein2024]

Damnit Muricans. Proper units would be nice. Very interesting though.

[@Magnetikur]

Putting rocks on ur soil is like putting a home for ur worms.

[@jothishahemajothi735]

But sir for insprite class for biological sciences

[@floridagrown6250]

What abt mulch?