One of the common doubts that arises in our mind when planting a tree is whether the roots of the tree are invasive or not because the spot is identified accordingly to plant the seed. A few trees have invasive roots that affect the structural foundation of the house, whereas others are not.
When it comes to the apple tree, it can be said that it is not invasive because it grows shallow and laterally, depending on the type of rootstock, soil, and environmental conditions. If you plan to grow apples and want to gather information regarding the character of their roots, here in this article, we discuss "Are apple tree roots invasive?" to guide you.
Know More About the Apple Tree Roots
Apple tree roots don't have an invasive character and cause minimal damage to the roots. They don't cause foundational damage to the homes; the tree grows twice the size of the breadth of the canopy tree, competing with nearby plants and trees for nutrients, water, and oxygen. The only concern is its branches because overgrown branches of trees located close to the home may damage the exterior part of the home.
Tips to Consider Before Planting the Apple Tree
- Never plant the tree directly above the plumbing or piping because if, at any point in time, any repair work is to be done, you will have to remove the tree.
- Plant it at a distance from the house because these trees grow horizontally in the soil.
- In case of heavy clay soil, plant it high with a wide and shallow planting hole.
- If you have to dig more than 2 or 3 feet, consult a dig safe to know if it's safe to dig or not.
- Plant it at a place where the growing tree gets a minimum of 8 hours of sun for robust growth.
- Regular pruning is necessary to keep the tree healthy.
- Scan visually through the neighborhood within 100 feet of the apple tree for pollen sources because apples are pollinated by insects.
How Are the Roots of Apple Trees Formed?
Once the seed is sown, a taproot emerges after the germination takes place to help the plant make its place in the soil. When the plant is young and midway towards growth, the structure of the roots changes to a fibrous root system with vertical deep anchoring roots forming a mass of fine roots. Let's have a look at the stages of the root growth.
Vertical Deep Roots

Apple trees have vertical deep roots growing straight into the soil accessing the deep moisture reserves to use during drought periods. These roots also protect the tree from the ground during extreme weather conditions. A standard rootstock grows vertical roots up to 6 meters deep within the time span of 20 years if the soil and moisture position is ideal.
Fibrous Roots

Fibrous roots grow from the deep roots in the horizontal direction and spread in the soil in all directions, looking for moisture and nutrients. The roots are located within the top 3 feet from the surface of the soil. The fibrous roots have a development of fine root hairs called feeder roots which take up water and nutrients from the soil. The feeder roots grow faster to form a mat of thousands of fine non-woody tips, which act as a source of water, nutrients, and oxygen absorption for the apple tree.
Feeder Roots

These roots grow on the fibrous roots in an upward direction from the soil layer which compete with the neighboring plants for nutrients and water. For this reason, it's essential to mulch the base of the young apple tree to retain moisture and prevent weeds from growing around the base of the tree, which can suck all the nutrients from the feeder roots. Apple trees need nutrients to grow in the early stage and if grass and weeds grow around the base, the growth will get hampered.
Root stocks

Rootstocks determine the length of the growth of the mature tree, the time when it will bear fruit, and the growth of the root mass. Some rootstocks are more vigorous than others. For example, M.26 rootstocks produce semi-dwarf apple trees and are more vigorous in producing large fibrous root mass, whereas M9 rootstocks produce a tree requiring staking.
Can Apple Tree Roots Cause Damage?
Apple tree roots don't cause any damage to the structure of the house, but it's advisable to plant them at a distance of 6-8 inches away from the house as a precautionary measure to ensure no harm is done to the exterior part of the home.