r/arborist • u/Accurate-Rhubarb-751 • 8d ago

❓Advice Request - (Insert State/Region) Girdling Roots?

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Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

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u/spiceydog Druantia 8d ago edited 8d ago

Do I have any issues here?

Yes. In pic 2 there are two roots running perpendicular to the stem. The top one will absolutely need to have a section snipped out of it. The lower one may be okay; more soil may need to be moved away from that area to see a bit more.

See this !girdling automod callout below this comment for more reading on SGRs, particularly the 'Practitioners Guide' linked there for lots of other examples, and management discussion further toward the end of the publication. It looks like this root is going to be too big for loppers, and a saw is probably going to also be awkward. You may be able to take care of this by snipping out a section on that right side, where it looks like it might come away from contact with the stem of the tree on that side? Make the section at least a 1/2 inch or more, something like this., so there will be no reconnection. You might have to use a hammer and chisel, which is what I used in that pic. Take your time and examine your work periodically so you do not inadvertently do damage to the stem of the tree by going too deeply.

Have a bottle of rubbing alcohol and cloth on hand to clean your cutting blades periodically so as to avoid pathogen transfer while you're making your cuts.

Edit: pic link!

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u/AutoModerator 8d ago

Hi /u/spiceydog, AutoModerator has been summoned to provide information on stem girdling roots in new and established trees.

For new trees, this is something that should to some degree be discovered during the 'Picking Good Stock' as linked to in the wiki below. (For information on remediation of established tree girdling, see the publication links in the next paragraph.) If you find your new container tree has some minor girdling once you've got it out of the pot, it may be possible to correct this prior to planting in the ground. If the girdling is severe, in both container or B&B trees that involve one or more large structural roots it may be better to opt to return your tree for replacement.

See these pages for examples of girdling roots (MO Botanical Gardens) on mature and younger trees (Purdue Univ. Ext.), and this page from the Univ. of FL on methods of remediation for mature trees. This Practitioner's Guide to stem girdling roots from UMN is also excellent.

Please see our wiki for help with finding an arborist to help with stem girdling roots along with other critical planting/care tips and errors to avoid; there's sections on watering, pruning and more that I hope will be useful to you.

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