The University of California, Santa Cruz, Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems While many factors contribute to the depth of peach tree roots, the main factors are the soil’s water, nutrients, and space.Īlthough the majority of the root system spreads out laterally to seek nutrients in shallow soil, some roots grow deep into the soil to provide support and feed on the deeper nutrients.ĭwarf rootstocks feature an effective feeding root depth of 1-2’, while full-size trees probe 2-3’ deep. Other, deeper roots can be found in 12-16″, with some reaching up to 3′ deep.

Peach trees typically have shallow roots, with 90% of the roots found in the first 2′ of soil. If you feel comfortable, you can also prune the roots during this time to slow the tree’s growth. Because of this, it’s best to provide potted peach trees with a new, larger pot every 3-5 years. Keep in mind that peach trees grow an average of 36 inches per year, so they can quickly outgrow their root barrier or pot. If you’d like to get an idea of a good root barrier you can use, check out this root barrier on Amazon. On the other hand, planting the peach tree in a pot will naturally bind the roots. This mechanical device protects your property as well as the peach tree. Root barriers can be used to redirect roots deeper into the soil and away from fences or foundations. For a full-sized tree, this equals a spread of 25 square feet or more, while dwarf peach trees have root systems that are closer to 10 square feet.īecause of this, if you’d like to limit your peach tree’s horizontal root growth, there are a couple of things you can do. With optimal resources, the root system of a mature peach tree can reach up to three times the height of the tree. This makes construction sites a bad environment for them since the ground is usually compacted. If they run into any obstacles, the roots will grow around the object and continue in their original direction of growth. If the soil is heavily compacted or lacking the proper nutrients, the roots will spread beyond the drip line until they find what they’re looking for.

In the search for these resources, peach tree roots tend to develop horizontally. Even if one of these is missing, the tree’s roots might be stunted.

Roots need adequate amounts of oxygen, water, nutrients, and space to grow. The distance that peach tree roots can grow depends on many factors, such as:Īll of the above qualities are important for peach tree’s growth. As a general rule, it’s best to keep peach trees at least 25 feet from structures such as fences, walls, and foundations. Dwarf peach trees are shorter than this, usually having roots that spread to 15 feet. Peach tree roots often extend to the drip line of the tree, which is about 25 feet long. So, while peach trees aren’t normally invasive, just how far and deep do their roots grow, and where should you be planting them for the least amount of risk? Let’s take a closer look. Avoid structures such as foundations, fences, pipes, and fire hydrants. This risk can be reduced if you choose less invasive rootstocks and plant them at least 25 feet away from construction. Generally, peach trees don’t have invasive roots, but they can cause damage depending on how close they are to a structure. To help avoid this, I did some research to find out if peach trees really have invasive roots. The bad news is that I heard some trees have invasive roots and can cause damage to structures such as foundations (costing upwards of $27,000). Before I buy my peach tree, I’d like to locate a proper site to plant it.

Peppermint peach tree