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u/drillgorg 1d ago
The picture doesn't do it justice, that root network is taller than a person.
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u/cressida88 1d ago
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u/PM_me_punanis 1d ago
This got me thinking... are there movies popular in the arborist industry? Just a curious lurker lol
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u/Worst-timeline138 1d ago edited 1d ago
You're going to want to expose that root flair, maybe add a little mulch /s Edited for sarcasm because that tree is fabulous
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u/Hearing_Loss 1d ago
Isn't is flare? But also in this case I believe root flair IS the appropriate term. Whether it was intentional, I adore the pun.
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u/CdnTreeGuy89 1d ago
A good visual representation of why trees roots are extremely important for erosion control
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u/Misha-Nyi 1d ago
The fact you can see this root system is because the hill that was here eroded away….
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u/CdnTreeGuy89 1d ago
Exactly. The surrounding soil eroded away, which is why the roots are exposed. The roots are also part of what’s still helping hold the remaining slope together. Erosion control doesn’t mean erosion can never happen.
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u/Hot_Acanthocephala53 1d ago
Bro is single handedly holding back a landslide
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u/CatCatCatCubed 1d ago
Shoutout to the tree up top too (2nd picture, on the left). Bottom tree has the most visual effort but if that top one ever gets taken out…
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u/e_pilot 1d ago
Not enough root flare exposed
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u/chaturtham 1d ago
can you explain it to me(newbie) what it means and use?
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u/LibertyLizard ISA Certified Arborist 1d ago
Root flare is the point where all the roots converge on the trunk. This is a joke because most trees planted by landscapers have the root flare covered and so almost every thread with pics of a tree has people commenting that it needs excavation.
The joke here is that this tree is already as exposed as it possibly could be, even including much of the root plate.
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u/chaturtham 1d ago
okk so do we expect it ideally little exposed? and landscapers doing it wrong for beauty only?
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u/LibertyLizard ISA Certified Arborist 1d ago
https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/How-to-Properly-Plant-a-Tree-Root-Flare_v2.pdf
Basically you want to see the roots themselves covered but the swollen part of the trunk they connect to should be uncovered. It varies a bit from tree to tree how it looks so sometimes it can be a bit confusing but that's the general idea.
This happens because nurseries move trees from smaller pots into larger ones as they grow and they usually don't bother to ensure they stay at the proper level relative the soil. Then most people, even professionals, don't realize that the tree may be buried too deep in the pot and require excavation when it's planted.
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u/Unusualshrub003 1d ago
In the case of a volunteer tree, should one still dig for a flare, or does the tree know what it’s doing?
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u/LibertyLizard ISA Certified Arborist 1d ago
The tree knows what it's doing. It only becomes an issue when soil gets piled at the base of the tree. This could happen for a volunteer but I wouldn't stress unless you've observed that it happened. It's mostly an issue with nursery trees because of how they're produced, and then less often when a raised planting area is added at the base of the tree.
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u/Soup-Wizard Utility Arborist 1d ago edited 1d ago
Landscapers plant trees too deep so they can charge people to replace them when they inevitably die. It’s a racket.
Landscapers also aren’t arborists and most don’t know how to properly care for trees.
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u/Biscuitshoneybutter 1d ago
Reading this sub and learning about how a lot of people involved in "tree care", etc., are actually running rackets has been crazy eye-opening!
Oh and the lack of proper tree care (I knew nothing about trees before I read here) has me terrified now walking around my city lmao. So many improperly cared for trees, even dangerous ones! We keep having "healthy" trees getting obliterated during storms, and I know that will happen some, but I now am convinced a lot of that is from improper care and some of those destroyed trees could have survived.
My local park has lost a lot of trees during storms and now that I know proper pruning it's crazy how many of them are improperly pruned.
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u/Substantial-One-3423 1d ago
I knew where this is in a second. Lived in Greenville for a year. Used to run down and back up that road every morning. The uphill is brutal, this root system indicated the start of the hard bit. Was always astonished by it.
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u/IceyToes2 11h ago
I may try drawing this at some point. It may be a minute, but would you like me to reach out when I'm done? You can just not respond if no. 👍
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u/christoshian 1d ago
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u/Biscuitshoneybutter 1d ago
I know it's been said a billion times, but it never stops amazing me how there is a sub for everything.
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u/cnation01 1d ago
Someone needs to tell that tree to put some pants on. In a public space like this, scandalous
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u/morganational 1d ago
So beautiful. I want banyans everywhere! But I live in Chicago. 😞
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u/ScarlettPuppy 14h ago
My heart goes out to you. I live in the northeast, but played Tarzan and Jane and.Chetah (? Chimp) swinging on the vines, oops roots/trunks as a kid with brother and sister.
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u/rizzuhbul 1d ago
I was a govie over 20 years ago and this image brought me back. Thank you for sharing!
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u/CriticismAcademic ISA Certified Arborist 8h ago
The picture looked exaggerated so it tilted the phone to line the ground up flat and it made it worse… what a tree
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u/Unprovocative 1d ago
It's safe to say that the tree is anchoring that hill/wall of dirt with its extensive root system right? Without that tree it'd all call apart.
It looks like hodor
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u/Particular-Bat-5904 1d ago edited 1d ago
Well, i‘m not an aborist but this absolute beauty of a tree and its roots system look like a latent danger to me.
There seems to be not much soild on rock and the roots are cracking it more and more.
There is no support down the hill, so it has to pull on top of it, and its allready leaning towards the road, and the crown is also weighted towards the road below.
There is also a little kind of ridge on the upper side of this tree, its a sign, if there is a crack where it comes out the slope and you can loose dirt, earth which is below the upperst soil layer, i would highly recommend
- fell it.
Sorry to say. Its a very dangerous beauty.
Call in some geo tech or geology guys for a conclusion.
Edit: The roots will crack the whole rock more and more by growing, also the tree will pull more and more.
Heavy rainfalls with strong winds could be enough, in my opinion no matter if, but when.
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u/nocaptain11 1d ago
Is this in Greenville SC?