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
To keep your ficus roots healthy, once a year, check the root ball.
—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 July 2026
Plant food is then sprinkled onto the root ball and the surrounding soil.
—
Martha Stewart,
2 July 2026
Evergreen trees can shed water away from the root ball when a sprinkler is used.
—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
New trees, shrubs and groundcovers can be planted; do keep the root balls moist.
—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for root ball
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Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 July 2026
Plant food is then sprinkled onto the root ball and the surrounding soil.
—
Martha Stewart,
2 July 2026
Evergreen trees can shed water away from the root ball when a sprinkler is used.
—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
New trees, shrubs and groundcovers can be planted; do keep the root balls moist.
—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 June 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 5 Jul. 2026.
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