Planted too deeply

Trees planted too deeply often develop roots in the soil located above the original root flare. Both photos show the results of an air spade excavation around trees planted too deeply. These roots can eventually become girlding roots and choke the trunk. More

Treatment: If root excavations reveal a root system like these, remove roots growing around or parallel to the trunk. If there are many of these, remove half now and the other half a year or two later. Some root systems may not be correctable if most roots are circling close to the trunk. These can decline over a period of many years. Click here for more on correcting deep planting.