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What are Girdling Roots and How do They Effect Trees

What are Girdling Roots and How do They Effect Trees

If you know what girdling roots are, then you know how devastating they can be for your trees.…

Jul 01,2021

If you know what girdling roots are, then you know how devastating they can be for your trees. Those who do not know about girdling roots should find out as soon as possible. Your friends at Sesmas Tree Service have put together this article to run you through some of the basics. We’ll describe girdling roots and its causes, summarize the risks, and go over some prevention and treatment options. Call Sesmas Tree Service if you prefer to let a trained arborist take care of your struggling trees. We are always happy to help.

What are Girdling Roots and How do They Effect Trees

What Are Girdling Roots?

Girdling roots are lateral tree roots at or slightly below the soil surface and cut into at least one side of the main tree trunk. They are caused by a variety of possible reasons including nursery and transplanting methods, root restrictions, and more.

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The Risks of Girdling Roots

Girdling roots put pressure on the tree and restrict the flow of water and nutrients through the tree. They practically suffocate the tree. Over time, trunks and stems weaken from this malnutrition and the tree may die in five to fifteen years. When you factor in other environmental stresses and diseases, you can witness your tree die much quicker. To make matters worse, practices like fertilization, irrigation, and pruning will not counterbalance the slow in growth due to the girdling roots. This is why you should seek treatment for your tree as soon as you identify girdling roots.

Causes and Prevention

When plants are held in containers, their roots grow until they no longer fit in the container. Eventually, the roots begin to circle around in the pot and girdle the tree. 
When you take these trees out of the container, be sure to loosen and spread out these roots in the planting hole before covering the roots with soil. If the girdling roots have been in the container for long, then the roots may be woody and will have to be cut as they will not be flexible and will have taken the shape of the container. 
As a final note, make sure that the soil is not packed so tight that it obstructs the healthy growth of the roots. Compacted soil can cause a similar situation to the container example. In short, make sure the roots have plenty of room to grow uninhibited.

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3 large Leyland Cypress trees removed near front of our home. Excellent service, professional crew, very competitive pricing for superior work! Rolando provided the initial estimate and the  follow up and was the best in terms of customer relations. I'd both use this company again AND highly recommend them.

Susan Hitchcock

This is the 2nd time we have used Sesmas Tree Service. They are a wonderful company to deal with. They were on time, professional, and very thorough. They cleaned up prior to leaving and went out of their way to protect our plants and landscaping. And they kept to their proposal with no hidden cost or add ons. Definitely a five star experience!

Gene McFadden

Wow!  I deal with tree services in my professional work and I can honestly say Sesmas is by far the most professional, best equipped, efficient, safety conscious, and communicative service I've ever encountered.  Their price was very reasonable and they even went so far as to include additional work without increasing the price.  Call them!  Now! They are very quick to respond.

Scott McLendon

We've used Sesmas several times and have always received excellent service.  Estimates are quick and easy and the crew is efficient and leaves the property clean of debris.  Recently we needed a tree removed next to a heavily landscaped area.  Sebastian went over everything with me in detail and listened to my concerns.  The crew did an excellent job in removing the tree with minimal disturbance to the surrounding area.  We are pleased and will consider them again in the future for pruning and tree removal.

Tonia Griswold

Sesmas Tree Service was amazing! I had two dead trees cut and a lot of trees that were already down on my property removed. Sebastian came out and sent the quote in writing within 24 hours. We were in the process of scheduling the service when a slot opened up sooner snd I was able to go ahead and get the work done. Everything was explained ahead of time for what to expect. The crew was very efficient and professional.  All of the work and cleanup was done in one day. I would recommend Sesmas for your tree cutting/cleanup needs.

LaDora Woods

I hired Sesmas to cut down a very tricky tree that was hanging over my house as well as a few large limbs. They did a great job and had the machinery to get the job done right.

Perry Hartman

Great experience with Sesmas. They were meticulous with my tree removal, safe and efficient. David’s communication throughout the process was much appreciated. Highly recommend!

Lindsay Ellenburg

Great experience with Sesmas Tree Service. The arborist who came out was a Board Certified Master Arborist, and you could immediately tell he knew his stuff. He took the time to explain what needed to be done, gave us clear options, and helped us feel confident from start to finish. The whole process was easy and professional. We’ll definitely use them again.

Ed Martin

What Is the Solution?

The girdling root must be removed if you want to save your tree from premature death. However, this must be done with care so as to not injure the trunk cambium beneath the root.
To begin, you will have to excavate the soil to uncover the full length of the girdling roots that must be removed. Then use a saw or chisel to cut the root between 6 inches to a foot out from the trunk. Avoid violently pulling the root from the embedded area as this can damage the cambium. Very large girdling roots will have to be treated in stages since they may be supplying water and nutrients to the canopy.
Call Sesmas Tree Service if you would like to, instead, hire an ISA-Certified arborist. Our friendly representatives are always happy to help.
 

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