Girdled Sugar Maple...

[Garden Of Eden]

Hey,

I'm looking for a bit of info. I've got a sugar maple in my uncle's yard. It's starting to lose all it's leaves by like end of May, beginning of June. I was curious what was up, smaller sized leaves and everything else. I guessed it was maybe Girdled. I dug down about 12-18 inches and saw a root wrap about 1/3 the way around, tight to the trunk. The root is maybe 3 inches in diameter, and the tree is maybe 18-20" DBH, it lays maybe 6" below the surface. I'm not sure if it can be saved, but the tree is a beautiful tree, for a couple months.

If I can save it, what should I do? Would it be safe to cut and straighten the root?

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

 

[Tree Pig]

Some info that may help a little

http://outagamie.uwex.edu/hort/documents/Girdlingroot4_06_000.pdf

Once the later stages of the disorder are reached, girdling roots are often at an advanced stage and
little can be done for the tree. If the problem is detected early, successful removal of the offending
root may remedy the problem. A chain saw or hand saw cut to sever the offending root may save
The tree. There may be more then one root that needs to be removed. You must dig around the
base of the tree to find these girdling roots.

 

[Garden Of Eden]

Some info that may help a little

http://outagamie.uwex.edu/hort/documents/Girdlingroot4_06_000.pdf

Just what I was looking for. I'm going to cut it, and pray. Maybe add some root stimulator. I'm kinda lucky, because there are no value targets near, and no people to worry about messing with it.

Thanks again,

Jeff

 

[Tree Pig]

Just what I was looking for. I'm going to cut it, and pray. Maybe add some root stimulator. I'm kinda lucky, because there are no value targets near, and no people to worry about messing with it.

Thanks again,

Jeff

There is more in depth info out there. If you can find a copy of it Pirones Tree Maintenance book has decent info on it. Give it a few for some of the real arborist to chime in on the do's and Dont's

This is something Treeser posted a while ago and its more in depth
http://www.arboristsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=112670&d=1256173773

 

[treeseer]

This is something Treeser posted a while ago and its more in depth
http://www.arboristsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=112670&d=1256173773

Still pretty current, and no one has told me yet that it is wrong!

Thanks for posting that link--kinda funny to see a university guy misspell "adventitious" as "advantageous". Pretty good info otherwise, except:

"Once the later stages of the disorder are reached, girdling roots are often at an advanced stage and little can be done for the tree."

This with all due respect is misleading and pessimistic BS; it gives no indication of what "advanced" is. I've been working with the tree is the attached story for 5 years now and it's 360 degrees girdled, in layers. It stopped dying back, but still has not bounced back much. But a lot can be done for trees of all stages of girdling.

Post a pic and the rootpruners here will Paint some cutting lines for ya! Remember, don't nick the trunk!

 

[isaaccarlson]

I'd cut the root

You have three choices,
1. Cut root
2. Let it die and cut it down later
3. Cut it down now

Take your pick. I would cut the root to give it a chance.

 

[boo]

Hey,

I'm looking for a bit of info. I've got a sugar maple in my uncle's yard. It's starting to lose all it's leaves by like end of May, beginning of June. I was curious what was up, smaller sized leaves and everything else. I guessed it was maybe Girdled. I dug down about 12-18 inches and saw a root wrap about 1/3 the way around, tight to the trunk. The root is maybe 3 inches in diameter, and the tree is maybe 18-20" DBH, it lays maybe 6" below the surface. I'm not sure if it can be saved, but the tree is a beautiful tree, for a couple months.

If I can save it, what should I do? Would it be safe to cut and straighten the root?

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

With digging down so deep to find roots, makes me wonder if someone backfilled with dirt or mulched too close to the tree covering the root crown.
Normally with root girdling Maples, the roots are close to the surface.
1/3 of the way around the tree is only the start of girdling, but if it is tight to the trunk squeezing, cut it.
I think the general rule is don't cut roots over 2" dia.
Cutting a 3" root on a 18-20" DBH sounds like a pretty serious root cutting.
You may see the damage of root cutting show in the top of the tree.

 

[treeseer]

With digging down so deep to find roots, makes me wonder if someone backfilled with dirt

& maybe, but more likely deep in the nursery and uncorrected by landscrapers

or mulched too close to the tree covering the root crown.

&typically, yes.

normally with root girdling Maples, the roots are close to the surface.

& maybe, but if you dig you will often see more. need chisel to do a good job, hence the sig below.

 

[JeffL]

With digging down so deep to find roots, makes me wonder if someone backfilled with dirt or mulched too close to the tree covering the root crown.
Normally with root girdling Maples, the roots are close to the surface.
1/3 of the way around the tree is only the start of girdling, but if it is tight to the trunk squeezing, cut it.
I think the general rule is don't cut roots over 2" dia.
Cutting a 3" root on a 18-20" DBH sounds like a pretty serious root cutting.
You may see the damage of root cutting show in the top of the tree.

Thats a bunch of hooey, I've cut up to 7" diameter roots within 4 feet of the trunk on mature sugar maples and 2 years later I've yet to see any dieback yet. We had to air-trench and root prune for a sidewalk to prevent root tearing when they excavated the area, wasnt just cutting them for fun. We probably removed at least 15-20% of the root system.

Always look at the alternative. Cut it and cross your fingers, or leave it alone and watch an already declining tree continue to decline and die anyways. I'd rather chance it.