Analytical　solutions　are　proposed　considering　the　hydrological　and　mechanical　effects　of　roots　with　different　root　architectures　on　shallow　slope　stability.　Analytical　parametric　studies　show　that　an　exponential　root　has　more　prominent　hydrological　and　mechanical　effects　than　a　uniform　one.　At　drying　conditions,　the　hydrological　effect　becomes　more　significant　in　gentler　slopes,　while　the　opposite　is　true　for　the　mechanical　effect.　At　a　given　slope　angle,　the　hydrological　and　mechanical　effects　increase　with　transpiration　rate　and　root　tensile　strength,　respectively.　After　rainfall　(with　a　10-year　return　period),　the　hydrological　effect　vanishes　almost　entirely,　and　hence　the　mechanical　effect　dominates　slope　stability.　©　2019　Elsevier　Ltd