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Understanding Roots: Discover How to Make Your Garden Flourish
Award-Winner in the "Home & Garden category of the 2015 USA Best Book Awards
Understanding Roots uncovers one of the greatest mysteries underground the secret lives and magical workings of the roots that move and grow invisibly beneath our feet.
Roots, it seems, 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.
Understanding Roots contains over 115 enchanting and revealing root drawings that most people have never seen, from prairies, grasslands, and deserts, as well as drawings based on excavations of vegetable, fruit, nut, and ornamental tree roots. Every root system presented in this book was drawn by people literally working in the trenches, sketching the roots where they grew.
The text provides a verydetailed review of all aspects of transplanting; describes how roots work their magic to improve soil nutrients; investigates the hidden life of soil microbes and their mysterious relationship to roots; explores the question of whether deep roots really gather more unique nutrients than shallow roots; shares the latest research about the mysteries of mycorrhizal (good fungal) association; shows you exactly where to put your fertilizer, compost, water, and mulch to help plants flourish; tells you why gray water increases crop yields more than fresh water; and, most importantly, reveals the science behind all the above (with citations for each scientific paper).
This book contains at least eighty percent more new information, more results of the latest in-depth and up-to-date explorations, and even more helpful guidelines on roots than the author s previous book (Roots Demystified: Change Your Garden Habits to Help Roots Thrive). This is not a revised edition it s a whole new stand-alone book.
"
Understanding Roots uncovers one of the greatest mysteries underground the secret lives and magical workings of the roots that move and grow invisibly beneath our feet.
Roots, it seems, 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.
Understanding Roots contains over 115 enchanting and revealing root drawings that most people have never seen, from prairies, grasslands, and deserts, as well as drawings based on excavations of vegetable, fruit, nut, and ornamental tree roots. Every root system presented in this book was drawn by people literally working in the trenches, sketching the roots where they grew.
The text provides a verydetailed review of all aspects of transplanting; describes how roots work their magic to improve soil nutrients; investigates the hidden life of soil microbes and their mysterious relationship to roots; explores the question of whether deep roots really gather more unique nutrients than shallow roots; shares the latest research about the mysteries of mycorrhizal (good fungal) association; shows you exactly where to put your fertilizer, compost, water, and mulch to help plants flourish; tells you why gray water increases crop yields more than fresh water; and, most importantly, reveals the science behind all the above (with citations for each scientific paper).
This book contains at least eighty percent more new information, more results of the latest in-depth and up-to-date explorations, and even more helpful guidelines on roots than the author s previous book (Roots Demystified: Change Your Garden Habits to Help Roots Thrive). This is not a revised edition it s a whole new stand-alone book.
"
- GenresGardeningNonfiction
225 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2015
1 person is currently reading
92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 19, 2015
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Understanding Roots is a great book for the thinking gardener. What do I mean by that? Well, if you want your information spoonfed, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. But if you're willing to read critically, you'll find some gems in Kourik's newest book.
Understanding Roots summarizes information from a wide variety of scientific sources, and the copious illustrations make the scientists' findings easy to read. But despite being written for a lay audience, the book itself reads a bit like a scientific paper in which the author is leery of making any assertions that can't be entirely backed up by the facts. Instead, the reader is be left to draw his own conclusions on topics like --- do dynamic accumulators really suck nutrients up from deep in the subsoil? how do different types of soil determine rooting habits of plants? etc.
Many of the illustrations in Understanding Roots are from the same Dr. Weaver who drew the root maps in Kourik's earlier books. But this new text includes companion root drawings from other sources, notably some German maps. The addition is very handy since I think Dr. Weaver's prairie soils resulted in much deeper rooting than many of us are likely to see in our own garden, so this most recent book gives a more well-rounded look at roots.
In the end, I highly recommend Understanding Roots for the intermediate gardener. The topic is integral to understanding how to keep your soil and plants happy. But it's a good book for a winter night when you can curl up in front of the wood stove and ponder rather than expecting to find information you can instantly utilize in your own garden.
Understanding Roots is a great book for the thinking gardener. What do I mean by that? Well, if you want your information spoonfed, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. But if you're willing to read critically, you'll find some gems in Kourik's newest book.
Understanding Roots summarizes information from a wide variety of scientific sources, and the copious illustrations make the scientists' findings easy to read. But despite being written for a lay audience, the book itself reads a bit like a scientific paper in which the author is leery of making any assertions that can't be entirely backed up by the facts. Instead, the reader is be left to draw his own conclusions on topics like --- do dynamic accumulators really suck nutrients up from deep in the subsoil? how do different types of soil determine rooting habits of plants? etc.
Many of the illustrations in Understanding Roots are from the same Dr. Weaver who drew the root maps in Kourik's earlier books. But this new text includes companion root drawings from other sources, notably some German maps. The addition is very handy since I think Dr. Weaver's prairie soils resulted in much deeper rooting than many of us are likely to see in our own garden, so this most recent book gives a more well-rounded look at roots.
In the end, I highly recommend Understanding Roots for the intermediate gardener. The topic is integral to understanding how to keep your soil and plants happy. But it's a good book for a winter night when you can curl up in front of the wood stove and ponder rather than expecting to find information you can instantly utilize in your own garden.
January 6, 2016
The subject is immensely important for any use of the land, whether it be small- or large-scale vegetable growing or agroforestry. The sad truth is we still do not know half as much about the soil underneath our feet than we do about the stars galaxies far away. We really are very alienated from the earth. And the underprioritization of soil ecology is evidence of this. Thus, there are not many books on the subject really. At least Robert Kourik puts a brave attempt into collecting much of what we do know now, due to research in recent years.
The book is highly illustrated with many examples from annuals to perennials, bushes and trees. Growing on slopes, valleys, shallow sand and deep loam. Many variables that make very different kind of root systems.
Many common myths are dispelled about roots. E.g. that the root system usually corresponds to the diameter of the canopy. Wrong. It is often 2-3 times as wide! Sometimes 20 times as wide. The ranges are amazing.
Kourik also questions the wide-spread idea of so called "dynamic accumulators". There really is no evidence for the assumption that this and this list of plants with presumably deep roots should "mine minerals" from the depth of the earth. Kourik has searched for root maps of plants like Comfrey and other heroes of dynamic accumulation, but has found very few and the few he found actually revealed much shallower roots. No research has been done on the difference between different layers of roots in respect to their ability of accumulating minerals. The science simply does not indicate the existence of so called dynamic accumulators. This is an important contribution and should be spread far and wide.
The book does have something like a notebook feel to it. Talkative, a bit associative and not so well ordered as you could want. I especially get this feeling since the book contains numerous passages that are literally the same. It does aid memorizing the most important conclusions of root biology, but after a couple of times, it also seems a bit noisy. It is good for an author to repeat themselves, but with a little variation or paraphrasing, it would have been more stimulating.
The book is highly illustrated with many examples from annuals to perennials, bushes and trees. Growing on slopes, valleys, shallow sand and deep loam. Many variables that make very different kind of root systems.
Many common myths are dispelled about roots. E.g. that the root system usually corresponds to the diameter of the canopy. Wrong. It is often 2-3 times as wide! Sometimes 20 times as wide. The ranges are amazing.
Kourik also questions the wide-spread idea of so called "dynamic accumulators". There really is no evidence for the assumption that this and this list of plants with presumably deep roots should "mine minerals" from the depth of the earth. Kourik has searched for root maps of plants like Comfrey and other heroes of dynamic accumulation, but has found very few and the few he found actually revealed much shallower roots. No research has been done on the difference between different layers of roots in respect to their ability of accumulating minerals. The science simply does not indicate the existence of so called dynamic accumulators. This is an important contribution and should be spread far and wide.
The book does have something like a notebook feel to it. Talkative, a bit associative and not so well ordered as you could want. I especially get this feeling since the book contains numerous passages that are literally the same. It does aid memorizing the most important conclusions of root biology, but after a couple of times, it also seems a bit noisy. It is good for an author to repeat themselves, but with a little variation or paraphrasing, it would have been more stimulating.
August 13, 2016
This is no page-turner, but if you are interested in roots, and their impact on tree/plant growth, this book covers the topic pretty well. Some interesting insights, and also some fine drawings of how roots actually grow out and down. Pretty fascinating.
April 11, 2017
Organic landscaper and author Robert Kourik sheds light on the fascinating world of plant roots in this wonderful resource for gardeners. At over 200 pages, this large book is packed with a wealth of information on how roots grow, collect nutrients, and interact with their environment, and how that knowledge can be used to better care for plants -be they ornamental trees and shrubs, or fruit and vegetable plants in the garden.
The book is filled with detailed root drawings and studies of roots from grassland, prairie, and desert plants, fruit and nut trees, and vegetables, pointing out their distinct features and unique needs. Kourik shows readers how this information should affect our approach to mulching, watering, and feeding plants for the best possible outcome. Additional topics discussed include crop rotation, tilling and it’s effect on beneficial root biota, the function of beneficial root biota, the importance of mycorrhizae and whether or not you should add them to your soil (the answer may surprise you!), and much more.
Understanding Roots is a must-have for anyone who is truly serious about organic gardening. Though I don’t have much experience as a gardener (yet!), this book has left me with a much better understanding of the role both soil and root health play in the bigger picture of growing stronger, more resilient plants- as well as a newfound appreciation for the complexity of root systems and soil microbes! If you want to save yourself a lot of time, effort, as well as avoid making a lot of costly mistakes, the knowledge compiled in this book is invaluable. And even though it’s very detailed and scientific, you definitely don’t have to be a scientist to understand and glean from this book. Perfect for beginners and well-seasoned gardeners alike. A fantastic read, highly recommended!
Rating: 5 stars
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Check out this review on my blog, EpicBookQuest.com
The book is filled with detailed root drawings and studies of roots from grassland, prairie, and desert plants, fruit and nut trees, and vegetables, pointing out their distinct features and unique needs. Kourik shows readers how this information should affect our approach to mulching, watering, and feeding plants for the best possible outcome. Additional topics discussed include crop rotation, tilling and it’s effect on beneficial root biota, the function of beneficial root biota, the importance of mycorrhizae and whether or not you should add them to your soil (the answer may surprise you!), and much more.
Understanding Roots is a must-have for anyone who is truly serious about organic gardening. Though I don’t have much experience as a gardener (yet!), this book has left me with a much better understanding of the role both soil and root health play in the bigger picture of growing stronger, more resilient plants- as well as a newfound appreciation for the complexity of root systems and soil microbes! If you want to save yourself a lot of time, effort, as well as avoid making a lot of costly mistakes, the knowledge compiled in this book is invaluable. And even though it’s very detailed and scientific, you definitely don’t have to be a scientist to understand and glean from this book. Perfect for beginners and well-seasoned gardeners alike. A fantastic read, highly recommended!
Rating: 5 stars
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Check out this review on my blog, EpicBookQuest.com
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews