Girdling roots?
jimbecky48
4 years ago
Just had this Iseli Fastigiata Blue Spruce ordered in and I'm a little concerned that it has girdling roots. Is there anyway to remedy this?
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years agojimbecky48
4 years agoRelated Discussions
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 root?
Comments (18)Bonsai growers know so many technical things about trees. People tend to think Bonsai is only for pot culture. Think Japanese gardens, full of beautiful trees growing in the ground. Whenever I have questions about trees, I always turn to experienced Bonsai growers. They do a lot of root trimming, pruning (in the ground) but know the right time and what and when not to cut. I am presently playing with bonsai on two trees growing on my property. Both are considered nuisance trees, so instead of cutting them down, I decided to train them to look good. One is a Golden Rain Tree, the other Ficus. I would still post your question to the forum even if your trimming is a wise idea. You might get more advice. Jane...See MoreNot a girdling root but a crossing root
Comments (7)your pic doesnt get bigger when i click on it ... so i cant really focus on it.. even if i put my nose on the screen.. lol .. the issue for me .... how much of the root mass would you be removing??? if this would take away 10% or less of the root mass.. who cares.. do whatever you want ... if in doing so.. you remove half the root mass ... i might suggest that would not be approved ... since on digging it up [it sounds like you moved it on your property.. rather than brought in a potted tree???] .. on digging it up.. you already cut off a lot of the root mass ... does that make any sense.. or should i try again ... i suppose roots dont blow in the wind.. hopefully.. lol ... and ergo.. dont really rub on each other to create a wound .. im not sure it matters with roots .... see pic for how a silver maple laid its roots on top of each other .. ken the pic isnt quite what i had hoped.. but hopefully you get my drift ......See MoreGirdling Roots
Comments (4)Notice also that it came in a wire or plastic basket that is still present and intact - at least above the soil line - after 3 years. Cut through the worst of the girdling roots and pull them off or at least leave them with gaps so they can't repair themselves. And try to get as much as the basket off as you can, without damaging the rest of the root crown. https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/Planting-fact-sheet.pdf If you dig down (carefully) to discover pretty much the whole root system is going around in circles right next to the trunk you might consider replacement with a different specimen, that is not so badly deformed. This may take some looking, as even still quite small trees and shrubs may often have been left too long in bands or small pots at commercial production facilities. But at least with starter plants it may be more feasible to make significant corrections and have the plants come through them....See Morejimbecky48
4 years agoEmbothrium
4 years agojimbecky48
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoThe thing is I didn't notice until I planted. I took a little water to wash it off but I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking at here. Is just normal rootflare or circling roots?
jimbecky48
4 years agoAlso noticed, if that is them circling, that they just do it in that one spot then head elsewhere. In addition I'm having trouble identifying the rootflare. Are they growing over it or what I think is roots is the rootflare? I realize some of this may be impossible to answer without actually looking at it
Another
jimbecky48
4 years agoUser
4 years ago
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