We bought a few trees from a nursery last year, and after seeing some of the posts here, I decided to look at/find the root flare and discovered lots of girdling roots around this Maple.
If I start cutting some of them off do you think the tree will survive?
by Dampyfish
12 Comments
Looks like it’s still in its pot
Tell me you were in your pot too long without telling me you were in your pot too long.
Two fuckups: you bought nursery stock without lifting it out of its container, you also bought way to old. Younger saplings better results
Probably, a better shot at a longer, healthier life at least. If the roots are still flexible maybe try and spread them out so it has a better base and doesn’t lose all it’s stored energy. Good luck.
This is about as bad as it gets. 1,000% sign of a nursery intentionally selling a bad product. This doesn’t happen by accident.
Do not think about if the tree survives. If you leave it alone, the tree will be fine for a few years (or many years) then die a slow tragic death.
Lift it out of the ground and cut the roots then replant it immediately.
If it dies, it’s better now than 6 yrs from now after you fell in love with it.
Don’t cut anything. Cover with soil to the level of the root neck, mulch the soil within the crown projection and it will be git.
You should dig that up and untangle them and then dig a way way bigger hole and re-plant it with them spread out, aim the ends out in a circle away from the center like the rays of the sun so they can grow outward
You could remove the tree, clean the roots, cut off the trunk, sand and varnish, find a nice mount, and you’ll have a unique piece of art.
I agree the roots need to be cut, however I would wait until late winter to do it. That’s the best time to do root pruning for potted trees, so I can’t see why it would be any different for in ground trees. If you do it right now, as the tree is leafed out, it will have a very hard time getting enough water to keep its leaves. If you do it in winter, while the tree is still dormant but just before it starts growing again, it will be less of a shock to the system.
Before I planted my tree, I followed the advice from [this webinar](https://youtu.be/APwfRDITqVg?t=2542&si=zPRNmBOOq7PH2zzd) that my local city hosted for free! The first bit is about what are some good trees to plant in our area and what trees to avoid, but around the 42nd minute mark, he talks about planting trees and it was super helpful! Or baby tree is doing splendid right now!
Cool, ive never seen such a perfect example.
Problem is girdled roots dont want to grow out and make the tree unstable, and potentially unwell.
I agree with another comment to prune them hard and see how you go.
If you didnt buy them that long ago i’d
also consider taking them
back for a refund. They’ll be shocked but that has happened over a couple years.