skip to main content

Maple with stem girdling roots?

16 years ago

Hello all. I have become concerned about what may be potential root girdling (pictures attached below) of a red maple in front of our home. We moved into the home three years ago and I did not plant the tree. The maple appears to be doing well now and growing vigorously however I am unsure if this will present problems for the tree down the road as it continues to mature. From limited research, I understand girdling roots can be removed in some cases without too much damage to the tree.

From those of you more versed in tree care, does this indeed appear to be root girdling? Should I contact an arborist?

Thanks,

Tim

{{gwi:348685}}

{{gwi:348686}}

Featured Answer

pineresin

16 years ago

How about drilling a few small holes where the girdling roots join the others? Should encourage the roots to graft to each other which should - at least in theory - solve the problem.

Resin

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Embothrium
16 years ago
I'd saw through them. I see trees like this all the time, it's due to widespread careless container production practices.
brandon7 TN_zone7
16 years ago
I agree with bboy, the situation does need to be addressed, and the two smaller roots in the picture also look like they will eventually cause problems. If you do decide to saw through the larger girdling root, you'll probably have to carefully cut just beside the trunk on each side and leave the root section, that's already embedded, where it is. It doesn't look like it would be likely to come out easily. The tree will grow around the root section. I can't tell from the picture how far around the root goes behind the tree or exactly how the attached end of the root looks (behind the tree in the picture). All this makes me wonder what's just below the surface. This situation could have probably been taken care of when the tree was first planted.
Related Discussions
Girdling Roots and Functional Root Grafts
Q
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 More
Red maple girdling-lost cause?
Q
Comments (11)
When confronted with this type of problem I first investigate the following as a probable cause: 1. Was some type of a trench dug along the section of dying maples? If so, possible explanation could be introduction of Verticillium wilt into trees through cut roots. A common problem with maples. It this did happen we can tell you how to quickly check your maple for possible V. wilt infection. 2. This one I learned from experience and observation when dealing with street trees. If there is an underground gas line in the vicinity of the trees it may have one or more pin holes slowly leaking gas which, in time, kills the trees. If this is the situation have the gas company check for leaks. This is often an unrecognized problem in older neighborhoods. Leaking gas can travel underground along tree roots for quite a distance. This was a lesson driven home to me one day. I will post the details someday when there is time.
...See More
Future Girdling Roots Problem?
Q
Comments (4)
Thanks - the roots aren't very large yet, but I wasn't sure if we should wait until the tree was more established before cutting them. It suffered a bit of dieback in the crown over the winter, but seems to be doing fine this year. It was bound in burlap when purchased and we made sure to cut off the entire basket - unfortunately, we never thought to spread out the roots!
...See More
Girdling around an 8 year old maple tree
Q
Comments (10)
"you have nothing to lose.. cut them." Apparently, I have nothing to lose whether they get cut out or not. I had a reliable and highly recommended tree surgeon stop by and since there is no damage showing up in the tree, especially the top tips, then there is no reason to take out the roots, or even disturb them. He mentioned that they used to make their "bread and butter" on these extractions but have come to realize that it is not necessary. I held back my horror and seriously doubted his intelligence on the topic and as a professional but then I received a reply from a popular "on-air garden advise" host who said the same thing "Leave it alone". Quelque dilemma!
...See More
wisconsitom
16 years ago
Yes, that's a pretty clear case of girdling roots. You have nothing to loose by attempting to remedy the situation. And it SHOULD buy you some time with this tree. Be advised though, that the overwhelming tendency in these cases is for the tree to initiate new roots at the point where the girdling ones were cut. Due to position and orientation, these new roots almost always will in turn, become girdlers themselves. Still, there is nothing to be lost by cutting them.

+oM
Embothrium
16 years ago
Without a pot wall or other barrier present there is no reason to expect replacement roots to grow in the wrong direction.
Olivier_NorthFrance
16 years ago
A SGR I cut 4 years ago on a Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) :

{{gwi:348687}}

The replacement roots (two of them, left and right) apparently grew in the right direction.

Olivier.
brandon7 TN_zone7
16 years ago
Resin, I don't understand what you are talking about. Would you explain?
pineresin
16 years ago
If you remove the outer bark where the girdling root touches the other roots, then their respective cambiums will be in contact and will graft together. The girdling root will them be incorporated within the main root, instead of constricting it.

Resin

Related Stories

TREES Great Design Plant: Coral Bark Japanese Maple, a Winter Standout

By Paintbox Garden

Go for garden gusto during the chilly season with the fiery red stems of this unusual Japanese maple

GARDENING GUIDES The Beauty of Bare-Root Plants

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant dormant trees and shrubs in fall using the easy, affordable bare-root method and enjoy beautiful results in spring

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Great Design Tree: Japanese Maple

By Annie Thornton

Lacy form and fiery fall color make Japanese maple a welcome tree for garden or patio

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Amazing Small Maple Trees

There's more to maples than syrup. Expand your maple milieu with any of these 5 small and unusual trees

TREES 11 Japanese Maples for Breathtaking Color and Form

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

With such a wide range to choose from, there’s a beautiful Japanese maple to suit almost any setting

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Vine Maple

Exciting year-round color and adaptability make this highly ornamental native small tree a top choice for home gardens

REGIONAL GARDEN GUIDES Northeast Gardener's April Checklist

By Paintbox Garden

Revel in the wonders of spring by babying bulbs, sprinkling seeds for root crops and setting out some nibbles for the birds

EARTH DAY ‘Terroir’ Brings a Sense of Place to Your Landscape

By Susan J Tweit

Species native to and characteristic of your region firmly root your garden and landscape

GARDENING GUIDES Garden Myths to Debunk as You Dig This Fall and Rest Over Winter

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Termites hate wood mulch, don’t amend soil for trees, avoid gravel in planters — and more nuggets of garden wisdom

EARTH DAY 5 Ideas for a More Earth-Friendly Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Consider increasing the size of garden beds, filtering rainwater and using plants to reduce energy use

Sponsored

More Discussions

Weeping White Spruce Growth

15

Is This a Sandbox Tree?

1

Paw paw seedlings or cuttings

6

Huge black maple in Michigan

4

Our oak tree seems to be slowly dying, what can we do?

8