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.—
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Carey BrothersExamples of root ball in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Choose a pot that’s about 1 to 2 inches larger than the root ball to keep extra soil from staying damp for too long.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026
Make sure the root balls of all plant are moist at planting time.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2026
Place the seedling in the hole so that the top of the root ball is slightly elevated above the surrounding ground level.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
If your plant isn’t dormant at the time of repotting, take extra care with the roots, says Estrada, gently loosening any bound root balls when necessary.
—Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for root ball
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Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026
Make sure the root balls of all plant are moist at planting time.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2026
Place the seedling in the hole so that the top of the root ball is slightly elevated above the surrounding ground level.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
If your plant isn’t dormant at the time of repotting, take extra care with the roots, says Estrada, gently loosening any bound root balls when necessary.
—Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for root ball
Cite this Entry
“Root ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/root%20ball. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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