Girdling Roots & Compacted Soil

Although they are mostly not visible, the structure and condition of your tree’s roots are enormously important to the overall health and longevity of your tree. We have the expertise and tools to ameliorate many root issues including compacted soils, girdling roots and buried root collars.

The root of many chronic  tree health problems starts in the soil.  Soil conditions and the health and structure of a tree’s roots play a vital role in its health and longevity.  However, tree roots are out of sight – and therefore frequently out of mind.  How can you ensure that your tree’s roots are healthy when they aren’t visible?

Our Plant Health Care technicians use an Air Spade, a specially-designed tool that uses a stream of compressed air to gently excavate soil around a tree’s root collar and to expose the root system without damaging it. This allows us to:

Visually inspect root structure and heath:  Our arborists assess the overall health of the roots and identify identify any signs of disease, decay, or damage that may not be apparent from the soil surface. Early detection of root issues allows for timely intervention and management.

Expose a buried root flare: The root flare is where the stem of a tree is connected to the first large structural roots. It is essential for the health of the tree that the root flare is above ground and not buried beneath soil or mulch.   If the stem of your tree is straight like a telephone pole where it emerges from the soil, the root flare is likely buried.  Buried root flares are prone to pest and pathogen attack, decay and the development of girdling roots.  Exposing a buried root flare will prevent or ameliorate these conditions.

Remedy soil compaction: Soil compaction due to construction equipment, vehicle or heavy foot traffic limits the movement of air, water, and nutrients within the soil. Our arborists can alleviate soil compaction in the root zone of a tree to promote better aeration, water infiltration, and a healthier soil microbial community. This in turn, improves the overall health of the tree by providing the roots with better access to air, water, nutrients, and growing space.  This is especially beneficial in urban environments where soil quality and soil space may be compromised due to hardscaping, construction, vehicle and foot traffic.

Identify and Correct girdling roots: Girdling roots grow in a circular pattern around the tree stem, potentially constricting the flow of water and nutrients upward to the leaves, and photosynthates down to the roots.  Our arborists can expose and prune away or redirect girdling roots to prevent long-term damage to the tree.

Enhance Tree Stability: By addressing issues such as girdling roots and ensuring the proper exposure of the root flare, air spading contributes to the overall stability of the tree. A stable and well-anchored root system is crucial for withstanding environmental stressors such as wind and storms.

Prune roots: Pruning diseased or decaying roots can stimulate the growth of new, healthy roots. We often prescribe this treatment along with our proprietary blend of balanced fertilizer, humic acid and biochar, and a plant growth hormone regulator that helps a plant prioritize fine root growth over investment in more above ground shoots and foliage.

Reduce systemic stress:  Healthy roots are the necessary foundation for optimal performance for trees.  Relieving stress due to buried root flares, compacted soils, girdling roots, poor structure, and below ground decay helps to preserve a tree as an aesthetically and ecologically functional feature in the landscape.

Contact us today to discuss how your tree might benefit from root and soil treatments.

Citations/ Resources

Donahue, Bonnie Kern.  2023.  How to Protect Tree Roots.  University of Vermont Extension.  September 14, 2023.
https://www.uvm.edu/news/extension/how-protect-tree-roots

Macie, Ed. 2019.  How to Correct Soil Compactions.  Trees – Energy – Conservation.  September 10, 2019.
https://trees-energy-conservation.extension.org/how-to-correct-soil-compaction/

Penn State Extension.  2023.  Are my trees buried too deep?  October 27, 2023.
https://extension.psu.edu/are-my-trees-buried-too-deep