Is this a girdling root?
Lily
2 years ago
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Girdling Roots and Functional Root Grafts
Comments (16)Trees and other plants are not an exact science or our jobs would be easy. We look at all research, make the best decision we can, and hope what we do works. Even a tree that is perfectly planted and cared for can; though rarely, develop girdling and nasty cross roots. OP said that most of the trees he was concerned about are young which gives them good chance of recovery with root treatment. Sure the OP may loose some trees to the root surgery but left alone with the problems he described they have little chance of growing up to be nice trees. I have worked with both scientists, businesses and the public and scientists do work in a different thinking zone. They present facts that in science are definitive to them, that is just the way they think. The research that they do has to be used and considered by us, but is not always practical to the real world in which they do not live....See MoreGirdling roots on Purple Beech tree
Comments (6)what?? .. and cut into their non existent profit margin ... sure they should ... lol ... imo .. part to the problem with large stock.. is the buyers need for instant gratification.. so they have to grow large specimens.. in small tub to feed such need ... buying smaller.. and doing your own root pruning at planting is the best way to go ... i would not remove the tree until it kills itself.. which might not be in your lifetime ... think in tree time .... i would take the hose.. and aggressively remove the soil ... and i would take one root now.. perhaps one in fall ... etc ... i would not remove all of them at once ... i would just replace to sol with a mulch ... instead of having to blast it every time you want to take a root off ... its like the opposite of severe canopy reduction ... if you have to do it.. do it in stages ... i figure.. once you remove a few inches of soil.. you will be better able to tell which goes first ... ken...See MoreDo any of these look like girdling roots?
Comments (5)im asking ... i dont know ... properly planted ... as this one appears .. in that the root flare is showing ... and no trunk is underground ... can a tree girdle itself with roots alone ... in other words.. i thought.. for what thats worth.. lol ... that the issue is when circling roots basically choke the trunk .... and basically squeeze the life out of it ... not allowing e.g. proper flow of vital juices up and down the tree trunk ??? ... and in this pic.. it doesnt appear to be happening ... i have had trees like this ... and i would just cut one end of a smaller root .. and then walk away ... and maybe 6 months or a year later.. i would walk by again ... and clip the dead root at the other apparent end ... and maybe snip another ... in other words.. i did the process in tree time .. no real need to run out there and remove all the problem that is showing ... i am always loathe to 'fix' something that might not be broken .. but a little guidance rarely hurts ... i do not recommend going all fire hose on the thing.. removing significant soil ... and removing 50% of a root mass in one fell swoop .... it would be the converse of severely topping the tree .. removing 50% of the canopy ... and of course.. you cant really see the root mass.. to have any real clue of what under there .. and what you are actually doing ... and since we dont see the whole tree ... shall we presume its basically healthy and showing no impact from this issue ... and if so ... one might ask.. whats to fix ... or.. in tree time.. whats the hurry ... ken...See MoreGirdling root on persimmon tree
Comments (2)whats the excavation all about? im not sure you arent trying to fix what isnt broken .... if the tree isnt showing any signs of suffering.. then whats the point of fixing it all and worrying about it ... im more concerned about how deep the root flare was ... and if you plan on putting the soil back ... ken...See MoreLily
2 years agoLily
2 years agoLily
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoLily
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
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