Original sentence: At first there are only three to five laterals, but this number typically increases to eight to ten within ten years.During the first winter there is a great deal of root system development, especially elongation of the sinker root, but almost no shoot growth.On resumption of shoot growth, the shoots grow rapidly for a short time, whilst the plant is under little water stress; then, with the onset of water stress, the plants settles into a long period of slower shoot growth.The structure of the root system, as comprising a vertical sinker root and multiple horizontal laterals, manifests itself in the seedling's first year, and thereafter growth consists of elongation of the sinker and laterals, and the appearance of new laterals
Edited sentence: During the first winter, there is a great deal of root system development, especially elongation of the sinker root, but almost no shoot growth.On resumption of shoot growth, the shoots grow rapidly for a short time, while the plant is under little water stress; then, with the onset of water stress, the plants settles into a long period of slower shoot growth.The structure of the root system, comprising a vertical sinker root and multiple horizontal laterals, develops in the seedling's first year.There are only three to five laterals at first, but this number typically increases to eight to ten within ten years.Thereafter, the sinker and laterals continue to lengthen, and new laterals appear