root ball

noun

ˈrüt-ˌbȯl How to pronounce root ball (audio)
 also  ˈru̇t-
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

Examples of root ball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Choose a pot that’s just 2 or 3 inches wider than the root ball of the plant. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Nov. 2024 Pull your mum out of the pot and loosen up the root ball with your fingers, especially any circling roots. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Nov. 2024 If in a plastic pot, squeeze the sides to loosen the root ball and tip the pot sideways to slide it out of the pot. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2024 Gently loosen the roots and remove the old soil, then transfer the whole root ball to the pot. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for root ball 

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of root ball was in 1837

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 6 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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