No roots on one side

Lack of roots on one side of the trunk (top of photo) can result from circling roots. We know that few if any major roots develop from the outside curved portion of a severely circling root. Growth occurs primarily from the tip of a circling root. This can result in enough roots to keep the canopy healthy, but the distribution of roots may be poor. On this tree, major roots were only on one side of the trunk. The tree eventually developed more weight than the one-sided root system could mechanically support.