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
Keep the soil moist, making sure the root ball is wet at each watering.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026
To minimize stress to young plants and root systems, look for seedlings grown in peat pots which can be torn from the root ball.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
Fill the container about halfway with potting soil, then gently loosen the root ball.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 16 May 2026
Young lettuce, kale, or broccoli plants should be planted so the root ball is level with the soil surface or just below; burying the stem or the crown too deeply can lead to rotting.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for root ball
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Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026
To minimize stress to young plants and root systems, look for seedlings grown in peat pots which can be torn from the root ball.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
Fill the container about halfway with potting soil, then gently loosen the root ball.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 16 May 2026
Young lettuce, kale, or broccoli plants should be planted so the root ball is level with the soil surface or just below; burying the stem or the crown too deeply can lead to rotting.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 15 May 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 28 May. 2026.
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