Missouri Environment and Garden Volume 6, No. While spring is, in fact, a good time to plant, there are a number of benefits to fall planting as well. The faster and more extensively roots grow into the backfill, the faster the plant will become established. There are many physical factors that influence root growth. These include the temperature and moisture content of the soil, soil density, drainage and aeration.
Roots never go completely dormant like trunks and stems.
They will grow whenever conditions are favorable. Another factor affecting root growth of woody plants is physiology. In general, trees and shrubs alternate top growth and root growth. During periods of rapid top growth, root growth slows down. Then, when the foliage matures, it manufactures carbohydrates through photosynthesis, some of which are mobilized to the roots.