The
Root Of The Matter
From Plumbing &
Mechanical magazine, February, 2001
To understand root control,
it helps to have a basic understanding of the biology of roots and
their growth.
The bio-mechanism behind
root growth is a continual process at the end of root tips called
hydrotropism wherein roots grow toward moisture. Root cells are
added at the tips one at a time, which is why roots can penetrate
extremely small openings.
Although root growth can
occur the entire year, most root growth is concentrated in the fall
and winter when external foliage is dormant. Root growth can also
spurt during the spring season at the onset of foliage growth.
As roots grow larger, their
exterior is covered with phloem, which is living tissue. Immediately
under this surface is cambium from which new tissue originates and
causes secondary root growth. The center part of roots is called
xylem, which is the woody part of the root that causes it to become
stronger.
Once roots have penetrated a
hairline crack, they can initially stay very small, but increase in
size on both sides of the opening. As a result, they often seal the
cracks they make. The real problem, however, is the parenchyma cells
within the center xylem that divide and can eventually exert enough
force to damage the pipe. Eventually, these roots divide their cells
hundreds of times, blocking the pipe.
Next comes that familiar
call to the plumbing firm who typically bores a hole through the
root mass with a root cutter head smaller than the inside diameter
of the drain being cabled. This actually encourages new root
regrowth.
This type of treatment for
drain failures is temporary and an ineffective means of removing all
roots from the drainpipe. Anyone who has ever done plant pruning
knows that when you cut off the end of a living plant stem that
another one usually buds off right behind it. Now after a period of
time you have two stems where there once was one.
A good analogy would be
cutting off the top half of a 100-foot high tree. The tree will
continue to grow new limbs and the base certainly will grow new
rings around its diameter. |
