tree failure due to girdling roots

[Greg]

I stood up and staked a small drake elm 4"dbh that looked like it had blow over in the wind. The tree looked great, very lush and full of good growth. After standing it up it never felt very solid, I took about 4" of soil away from the base where it was planted too deep and noticed a large 1.25" root that was partially sunken into the trunk, and the trunk right above the root was sunken in a little like it was the spot where the tree folded over. I explained girdling roots to the customer and said that we need to remove them, but we would be better off to wait about 6 months or so to allow some of the root structure to grow back from being uprooted. ----Do you think this was a good course of action?? I really thought that the tree had about 1/4 of it's roots severed due to the degree that it had fallen over, and cutting that large girdling root right then would do more harm than good. Does anyone know more about the potential trunk damage from where the tree folded over the root, I wonder if it will survive and will it ever be stable enough to remove the stakes (earth anchors). I'd like a second opinion. --My POS dig camera died about 3 months ago, sorry no pics.
Greg

 

[jimmyq]

slightly left of topic but, I planted 3 - 2" caliper trees today (Stewartia, Cornus, Cercidiphyllum) and all three were at least 3 inches too deep in the rootballs, they had been machine dug, placed in the basket with burlap ad hand filled to raise the level in the wire basket before being tied shut, I was not suprised I must say, it is way too common. The only saving grace was that I didn't see any secondary root systems starting yet or major damage to the trunk from being covered in soil (yet). Can someone teach these nursery guys (I must admit I am one still too in addition to my landscape and arborist business) how to care for, dig and rootball, transport and plant trees?

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by jimmyq
Can someone teach these nursery guys how to care for, dig and rootball, transport and plant trees?

Yes there's a lot of work being done in MN and IL and by ISA to get the growers to do it right.

Greg, I'd be leery of cutting big roots now, but I would schedule it for the fall. I do a lot of pruning of girdling roots and it is a sad process; hard to sell because the tree owners don't want to know the truth, hard to do without killing the patient.

If the trunk is lapping over the root, you need to use a small chisel to pop it off without gouging the stem. If a big girdling root is less than 1/3 the circ. I often let it be.

but if the tree hasn't been in the ground long, I recommend exhumation and replanting, straightening all roots into a radial direction, and flare at grade. the main trouble is getting paid fairly for this tedious work. Idiot growers should have these self-strangled trees put into the orifice where it will most get their attention

 

[kowens]

girdling roots

the apartment complex whear i live had about 70 oaks planted
seven years ago all of them look like this (see atth) can anyone
suggest what action should be taken

thanks
ken

 

[murphy4trees]

Here's one for ya..

 

[murphy4trees]

And another... this white pine was 40' tall and looked perfectly healthy... there was a bad root on the other side as well.. It was a shame to lose it.. rarely see that type of root problem in pines for some reason

 

[jmchristopher]

I don't know the "Drake", but Elms in general are about as tough as they come, so this one should survive it's surgery. It sounds like the key is going to be keeping it from falling over again while it rebuilds a support system. I think you made the right call. You might consider a little crown reduction to reduce wind loading, on one end, or some duckbills on the other. Good luck!

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Originally posted by murphy4trees
And another... this white pine was 40' tall and looked perfectly healthy... there was a bad root on the other side as well.. It was a shame to lose it.. rarely see that type of root problem in pines for some reason

It would not have looked healthy to me, the first thing I look at is the flare. And girdling roots is as common in evergreens as it is on any other tree, at least around here.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Re: girdling roots

Originally posted by kowens
the apartment complex whear i live had about 70 oaks planted
seven years ago all of them look like this (see atth) can anyone
suggest what action should be taken

thanks
ken

I think you need to work on cutting the girdling roots, or the tree ends up like Murphy's, dead.