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.
To prepare one for your home, gently shake off any excess soil from the roots, then place the root ball in a plastic bag and water thoroughly. Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Dec. 2024 Dig a planting hole 2-3 times as wide as the root ball. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024 Plastic pots had melted off the root balls of day lilies and irises. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024 Remove the burlap and wire baskets on the root balls once the tree is positioned in the planting hole. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Nov. 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 21 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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