variants
or less commonly rootball
plural root balls also rootballs
: the compact mass of roots and soil formed by a plant especially in a container
If there are large circling roots or you have a difficult time straightening the roots, the root ball should be thinned and the soil loosened before planting.—
Carey Brothers
Carey BrothersExamples of root ball in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dig a planting hole that’s as deep as the tree’s root ball and two to three times wider.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Jan. 2025
Dig a planting hole 2-3 times as wide as the root ball.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2025
In terms of size, Castro recommends choosing a pot just slightly larger than the plant’s root ball to avoid overwatering issues.
—Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 17 Jan. 2025
Remove the Plant from Its Original Pot Gently pull the aloe plant out of its original pot and remove as much soil as possible from the root ball.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for root ball 
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Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Jan. 2025
Dig a planting hole 2-3 times as wide as the root ball.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2025
In terms of size, Castro recommends choosing a pot just slightly larger than the plant’s root ball to avoid overwatering issues.
—Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 17 Jan. 2025
Remove the Plant from Its Original Pot Gently pull the aloe plant out of its original pot and remove as much soil as possible from the root ball.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for root ball
Dictionary Entries Near root ball
Cite this Entry
“Root ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/root%20ball. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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