| Trees add value and beauty to your home and lawn. | | | | depend on the health of the roots and how far the |
| However, the development of tree roots and what | | | | roots reach. Therefore, a detailed assessment of the |
| constitutes a healthy tree is largely misunderstood. | | | | tree should be made before removing any tree roots. |
| The picture many people have is a carrot type | | | | If the tree already has some health issues, cutting |
| taproot structure with several smaller lateral roots | | | | too many roots could kill the tree. If the cuts are |
| branching off. While this may be true of saplings, | | | | made too close to the trunk you will lose all the |
| larger trees quickly develop a completely different | | | | nutrients and stability those roots provided. In a |
| root structure. Determining the health of tree roots is | | | | worst-case scenario, the tree could topple over, |
| not always easy, but the tree itself may give you | | | | especially if the roots on the opposite side of the |
| visible clues. | | | | tree have been restricted, diseased or damaged. A |
| Myth 1 - All Trees Have Tap Roots | | | | certified arborist should be consulted before any |
| Small trees do begin with a taproot that helps anchor | | | | major root removal. |
| the sapling into the ground. As the tree grows, the | | | | Myth 3 - A Tree Full of Leaves Points to a Healthy |
| small taproot in most trees is replaced by a complex | | | | Root System |
| growth of lateral roots. These lateral roots can | | | | Diseased or injured trees can still put out leaves |
| extend outward at least two to three times the | | | | every year and is not a positive indication of health. |
| radius of the canopy. For example, if the radius of | | | | However, certain tree conditions are clues to the |
| the tree canopy is twenty feet, the roots could | | | | tree's health and stability. If the tree has large |
| extend out as far as sixty feet or more. This | | | | cavities in the trunk, this is an indication of previous |
| provides a tremendous anchoring system and a large | | | | damage, disease or both. Mushrooms growing on the |
| area for gathering nutrients. | | | | sides of trunks and branches are indications of |
| Roots don't actually seek out water, as many people | | | | internal rot and decay. These mushrooms, called |
| believe. Instead, roots will naturally grow where ever | | | | conks, are the fruiting bodies of rot disease. Specific |
| conditions are favorable. Small feeder roots are made | | | | mushrooms growing at the base of trees or on the |
| of delicate, non-woody tissue that can be as thin as | | | | ground near the truck can be indications of fungal |
| a hair. Large trees will have many thousands of | | | | diseases and decay in the roots. Every year trees |
| feeder roots that extend well beyond the canopy. | | | | that are loaded with leaves fall during storms and |
| The larger tree roots anchor the tree and serve to | | | | root problems are often to blame. |
| transport and store nutrients. About 75% of the | | | | Any conditions that indicate major health issues will |
| tree's roots will be in the top 10 to 18 inches of soil, | | | | need to be considered before digging around trees. |
| while nearly 100% of the tree's roots will be in the | | | | You don't want to make a problem worse by digging |
| top three feet of soil. | | | | around a tree if you have no idea how it will |
| Myth 2 - Cutting Tree Roots Won't Hurt Anything | | | | ultimately affect it. Also, take care when using certain |
| Cutting the roots won't hurt anything, right? Wrong, | | | | herbicides around trees. A common broadleaf |
| the tree will always be affected, but to what degree | | | | herbicide called Dicamba has been known to damage |
| depends on several factors, including the health of | | | | small feeder roots. |
| the tree, where the roots were cut and how many. | | | | Final note: Always seek the advice of a certified |
| There are many reasons why people may need to | | | | arborist before working near large trees or removing |
| cut through roots. Building a retaining wall, trenching | | | | tree roots. An arborist may be able to offer |
| the ground to lay drainage pipe, home basement | | | | suggestion to accomplish your goals with minimal |
| construction are just a few. In a lawn where trees | | | | damage to the tree or its root structure. |
| are spaced far apart, a large tree's strength will | | | | |