Rootgrow - Mycorrhizal fungi (friendly fungi)

Key benefits of planting with rootgrow products;

• Feeds your plants for their lifetime - finds more food, finds more water for your plant, shrub or tree
• Rapid growth of newly planted or transplanted plants, shrubs and trees
• Adds more roots to your plant
• Reduced requirement for high inputs of fertilisers
• Increased tolerance to heat and drought conditions
• Increased tolerance to adverse soil conditions e.g. high acidic or alkaline soils
• Healthy, sustainable growth and development for the whole garden
• A naturally-based, environmentally-friendly garden product
• Greater resistance to soil diseases

Having co-evolved with plants and trees for over 500 million years, mycorrhizal fungi are widespread throughout nature and are a fundamental reason for normal plant growth and development.

These fungi colonize plant or tree roots, extending the root system into the surrounding soil, via an extensive network of fungal filaments (up to 20 metres in a teaspoon of soil). These thread-like filaments extract nutrients and water from a large soil volume and exchange them for carbon from the plant. This secondary root system, when established, links the root systems of adjacent plants or trees and helps share, more efficiently, nutrient resources throughout the plant community.

Gardening including hoeing, tilling and regular chemical fertiliser use can inadvertently disturb and reduce the friendly fungal root network. Equally, the roots of some plants may seek a fungal partner that is not abundantly found in our gardens. Without changing your garden methods you can introduce mycorrhizas suitable for UK gardens through a simple application of rootgrow to the planting hole during planting out.

It is now recognised that the lack of the mycorrhizal relationship is a major cause of poor plant and tree establishment, and weak growth in a variety of agricultural, urban and suburban landscapes, and gardens.

Rootgrow Frequently Asked Questions

Where would I use rootgrow in the Garden?

The rootgrow products should be used for all outdoor gardening e.g. bedding plants, bulbs, roses, wild flower seed, or vegetables like leeks, onions etc.. and can be used whenever you plant out your plants in soils or in composts for patio plants, hanging baskets or window boxes. When using the product simply place some of the mix into the planting hole to cover the base and some of the sides (as you would for a fertiliser) and plant as normal and water in. Likewise in containers or alternatively mix thoroughly with the growth substrate at a rate of 5% (5g in 100g). For seeds scatter mix at a rate of 100-200ml per square metre and rake in before scattering seed above and covering with soil.

Plants which will not respond are few but include Rhododendrons, Azaleas, carnations and any brassica e.g. cabbage, sprouts.

Which trees should receive rootgrow plus product?

Fruit Trees like apple, pear and cherry can just be treated with the rootgrow mix but if in doubt use rootgrow plus for all trees. It has been designed for all deciduous species like oak, beech, birch, rowan, ash, etc.. and conifers like spruces and pines. Simply apply to planting hole beneath the rootball as described for the gardening plants.

Will it work in pure peat?

We would recommend its use in more environmentally-friendly pure peat composts but some peat-based composts can be used. We include some peat-tolerant fungi to help mycorrhize your plants - For indoor plants use rootgrow.

Can I use any fertiliser with my rootgrow treated plants?

We would recommend the use of slow or controlled release fertilisers rather than instant boost chemical fertilisers which will drastically reduce fungal activity if overused, although this is soil dependent (Nutrients like added phosphate are more quickly available in sandier soils than clay soils). Manures are fine if not overused. Top dressing will help the fungi function optimally. Most herbicides and insecticides appear to have little effect on the fungi but a few systemic fungicides e.g. benomyl can have a negative effect on their activity.

What effects should I see after using rootgrow?

Key benefits of planting with rootgrow products;

• Feeds your plants through their lifetime - finds more food, finds more water for your plant, shrub or tree
• A more vigorous healthy plant with stronger flowering (earlier and prolonge)
• Rapid growth of newly planted or transplanted plants, shrubs and trees
• Adds more fungal roots to your plant
• Reduced requirement for high inputs of chemical fertilisers
• Increased tolerance to heat and drought
• Increased tolerance to adverse soil conditions e.g. high acidic or alkaline soils
• Healthy, sustainable growth and development for the whole garden and all your plants
• A naturally-based, environmentally-friendly garden product. ·
• Greater resistance to soil diseases

Are these fungi environmentally-friendly?

Having co-evolved with plants and trees for over 500 million years, mycorrhizal fungi are widespread throughout nature and are a fundamental reason for normal plant growth and development. Such fungi colonise plant or tree roots, extending the root system into the surrounding soil, via an extensive network of fungal filaments (up to 20 metres in a teaspoon of soil). These thread-like filaments extract nutrients and water from a large soil volume and exchange them for carbon from the plant. This secondary root system, when established, links the root systems of adjacent plants or trees and probably helps share, more efficiently, nutrient resources throughout the plant community. So these fungi are a primary reason why land plants established on earth in the first place.

Will I need to treat my plants every season?

Not necessarily - In the garden beds if you undertake extensive weeding and preparation (hoeing/tilling) such that the soil is thoroughly tilled or disturbed then a reapplication may be needed for the new plants or seed used. Similarly, in container-grown plants purchased by many gardeners mycorrhizal fungi are not present. So, rootgrow should be used at each planting. The old compost which had been treated with rootgrow can be mixed into your bedding as extra inoculum should you plant new plants there. A parallel treatment with a slow or controlled release fertiliser or equivalent organic treatment will benefit the activity of the fungi.

Why isn't it like a fertiliser?

rootgrow establishes a second 'fungal root system' for the plant which support and work for that plant through its life - it does NOT become exhausted after a short time as a fertiliser does. The fungi track nutrients down and pass them on at a natural rate to the plant. The amount of the fungi in the soil means that the soil structure is maintained which is very important in all soils. This secondary root system, when established, links the root systems of adjacent plants or trees and helps share, more efficiently, nutrient resources throughout the plant community e.g. bluebells in a bluebell wood rely totally on these fungi which live in the roots of adjacent trees too.

How much do I need to use?

Roses and Garden Plants

• One sachet will be sufficient for 5 x 2Litre container-grown plants or one large 10 - 15 Litre container-grown plant.
• One sachet will mix into 5 Litres of growth substrate for hanging baskets, seed trays, patio containers, window boxes
• One sachet will treat 15 small garden centre module grown plants (strawberry, tomato, marigolds)
• One sachet will treat one square metre or one linear metre for seed planting (Vegetables and ornamentals)

Trees

• One pouch will be sufficient for 18 x 2 Litre container-grown plants or one large 100 Litre container-grown plant.

Are the fungi found in the UK?

Rootgrow contains fungi isolated from the UK from a range of soil types. Whilst different species of these fungi can be found all over the planet in all soils the need for climatically adapted fungi is the major issue rather than their geographical origin. Nevertheless we prefer to offer a UK based formulation to be sure of this adaptation.

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