What are
Girdling Roots
and How Do
They Affect
Your Trees?
Photo Credit: cultivar413 on Flickr
A tree’s root system carries water and nutrients
to the trunk, branches and leaves.
When a tree struggles, people tend to look only
at the parts visible above the ground.
This makes it easy to miss problems that begin
in the root system.
Girdling roots are ones that grow in a circular
pattern around the trunk.
Photo Credit: Scot Nelson on Flickr
Some develop just above the soil but they also
can be hidden beneath the surface.
If you picture a belt being pulled tight around
your waist, then you have a good idea of what
girdling roots do to a tree.
Photo Credit: Scot Nelson on Flickr
Preventing and treating girdling roots stops
trees from being choked out.
Photo Credit: Scot Nelson on Flickr
Are Certain
Trees More Likely
to Develop
Girdling Roots?
One of the biggest causes of girdling roots
is poor nursery and transplanting practices.
In nurseries, plants can be kept in containers
too long.
With nowhere to go, roots will begin to circle
around the sides of the container.
A similar situation can happen if a tree is
transplanted into a hole that is too small.
Twisting the roots to make them fit into the hole can
encourage them to maintain this growth pattern.
If a planting hole has compacted soil, then the roots
may be unable to stretch outwards. Curling around
in a circle may be the only way that they can grow.
How Does This
Root Problem
Affect the Tree?
Trees struggle to thrive once girdling roots
choke off their supply of nutrients and water.
A tree with these types of roots may have
dying branches and leaves despite receiving
good care.
Eventually, a tree can die off within approximately
five to 15 years from this condition.
Prompt treatment can restore tree health
and bring it back to life.
How Do You
Know If a Tree
Has Girdling
Roots?
A tree with girdling roots will show signs
of general stress.
You might notice that the tree’s leaves
change colors abnormally early in the fall.
An early leaf drop is another sign that the tree
isn’t getting enough water and nutrients.
Thinning of the tree’s upper crown could further
indicate that the root system is struggling to keep
it nourished.
A tree’s trunk can show one of the most telltale signs of a girdling root.
Trees with normal growth have a flare at the base of the trunk.
Photo Credit: cultivar413 on Flickr
One with a girdling root will appear straighter or narrower
on one side or all around.
Occasionally, you’ll see roots circling around the trunk
above the ground. This is more common in areas with
a large amount of soil erosion.
What Are the
Best Treatment
Options to Save
the Tree?
Treating girdling roots begins with the planting process.
Make sure to dig a wide enough hole with roughened
sides that encourage the roots to spread out.
If there are roots circled around the root ball, then
loosening these up stops them from continuing to
maintain that growth pattern.
Once girdling roots are established, great care must be
taken to remove them.
These roots are often still supplying the tree with
nutrient-filled water.
Small roots may be able to be removed right away.
Larger ones typically must be removed in stages.
Working with an arborist prevents you from
accidentally causing more damage to the tree
by removing vital roots too soon.
Identifying girdling roots early gives your tree the best
chance of a successful recovery.
As you inspect a tree, keep in mind that crown problems
can be caused by other issues such as inefficient irrigation.
Whether you can see a girdling root or are curious to find
out why your tree is struggling, a professional inspection
can help you get to the root of the problem.
Custom Weed & Pest Control has been in business
since 1989, serving the greater Phoenix metro area
for both residential and commercial.
We have teamed up with Tree Theory,
and offer plant and tree care,
with customized service to meet
your specific needs.
•
ISA Certified Arborist (WE-3474A)
•
Consultation and Diagnosis
•
Fertilization and Deep Root Feeding
•
40+ years tree/plant care experience
•
25+ years weed and ornamental pest control