Bought a house recently which has this maple tree in the backyard. There was grass all the way up to the trunk and when I started digging it out to expose the root flare I found there was also metal edging around it, a couple feet in diameter. I’ve cleared a bunch of dirt out but now there are roots circling the trunk, but not touching/constricting, which I assume is a good thing. But the way they are, they’ll allow water to collect and pool against the trunk. Is that ok?
by buddiesels
3 Comments
Oof.
Those are some severe girdling roots. It may not need to come down yet, but there’s no salvaging that. The roots aren’t completely choking the tree, but they will at some point.
Plant a new tree now, and it will have grown in nicely by the time this one needs to be removed.
These need to be notched- these will cause issues. Cut out probably 5-6 notches around the outside of the root.
That does not look hopeful- there is a root touching the trunk on the right and there appears to be failure on the trunk due to the condition of the roots