Help with Pruning Roots

[deuce73]

Hi, I am working on a yard project with a tree in my front yard. This tree had ground cover all around, and it was getting quite out of hand. I started removing it all today and I just want to get it cleaned up and put grass in.
If you look at the pictures, you will see there is a large lateral root. It is quite large and goes out quite far from the tree. I was hoping to have a circle of mulch around the tree, but this root is really coming out quite a bit farther
than I want my circle to be. My question is, will I be able to cut off this root at the shovel, without doing to much damage to the tree. And if anyone can advise this type of tree, that would be great too.
The tree has barely grown in the 15 years I have lived here, I am wondering if that is attributed to all of the ground cover? Thanks for the advice.View attachment 287562View attachment 287563View attachment 287564View attachment 287565View attachment 287566

Jeff

 

[ATH]

Based on the pictures...which are not great for tree ID (get a good clear close-up of the twigs and buds): I am pretty sure it is a maple, sugar maple if I have to give my best estimation...but I reserve the right to change my mind with a better picture.

Root: WOW that is big there! Is there any reason you can't make the mulch ring as big as it is now? I don't think you will hurt the tree's ability to perform in the short-term, but that is a huge wound to leave exposed, and you will get rot entering in the root system which can cause long-term problems. If you "had" to prune the root there, I would do it...but I don't see why you have to, so I wouldn't.

 

[pdqdl]

Raise the grade of the soil to allow the root to be completely covered, then top the bare earth with the groundcover of your preference. I suspect that you are after turf, which is just fine.

It is generally considered a poor practice for the health of a tree to bury roots very deep with new topsoil, but it doesn't look like you will actually put more than 2"-4" over the large root to cover it. Just add enough topsoil to cause a gentle slope up to the root flare, then put in a mulch ring at your preferred size.

You can save a bunch of labor and expense by renting a sod cutter, lifting the sod a good distance from the tree in any areas that are still covered by grass, then add pulverized topsoil. Roll the sod back down, and you have instant grade change. The lazy man's way of doing the same job is to just sift a little pulverized soil in over the root one week at a time. This allows the grass to grow up through the added topsoil without making a big mess.

 

[Jed1124]

I'm with ath cutting roots should be avoided if possible. You are in the middle of a yard just make your mulch ring larger and please don't pile it up around the trunk.

 

[pdqdl]

I agree with ATH, looks like a sugar maple. Definitely a maple of some sort with the opposite branching. Those trees are rather slow growing, so don't expect a lot of growth. Some might blame ground cover, but I think that would be erroneous. There are a lot of arborists that will decry the addition of grass to the rootzone of a tree, but I am not one of them.

Tree looks healthy with good branching and finer twigs, so leave it alone. Don't even think about cutting off that root!

You can get the look you want without cutting off that root.

By the way, what is up with the oblong bare-earth area? Is that going to be a landscape area, or is that where you ripped out the old landscape?

Side note: If you are trying to decide what size to make your mulch circle, allow me to suggest putting the outer edge about where the total shade from the canopy will be under the summer sun. It is pretty hard to get grass to grow under an established tree, and by choosing the shade-line, you can select shade tolerant landscaping plants to place inside the mulch ring. Also: it can be pure hell trying to keep the weeds out of a sunny mulch ring. Stopping in the shade reduces your labor expense to maintain.

 

[deuce73]

I agree with ATH, looks like a sugar maple. Definitely a maple of some sort with the opposite branching. Those trees are rather slow growing, so don't expect a lot of growth. Some might blame ground cover, but I think that would be erroneous. There are a lot of arborists that will decry the addition of grass to the rootzone of a tree, but I am not one of them.

Tree looks healthy with good branching and finer twigs, so leave it alone. Don't even think about cutting off that root!

You can get the look you want without cutting off that root.

By the way, what is up with the oblong bare-earth area? Is that going to be a landscape area, or is that where you ripped out the old landscape?

Side note: If you are trying to decide what size to make your mulch circle, allow me to suggest putting the outer edge about where the total shade from the canopy will be under the summer sun. It is pretty hard to get grass to grow under an established tree, and by choosing the shade-line, you can select shade tolerant landscaping plants to place inside the mulch ring. Also: it can be pure hell trying to keep the weeds out of a sunny mulch ring. Stopping in the shade reduces your labor expense to maintain.

Thanks for all the answers guys. I won't be cutting that root then! Yes, that oblong area is all of the ground cover I have been removing to prepare to plant grass/make ring.

 

[deuce73]

Thanks

Thanks for the help guys, I will not be cutting off that root then. Yes, that strange oblong area is where I am removing the existing ground cover if favor of grass/mulch.