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Cut roots at planting
Remove roots growing tangent across the top of the root ball, especially those positioned close to the trunk.
Expose the roots by removing soil or media from the top of the root ball. All these circling and crossing roots should be removed.
Begin removing roots that circle and cross the top of the root ball.
When completed the main flare roots will be visible as shown above. The pink line was at the original soil level.
These roots should be removed because they are likely to strangle the trunk.
After removing the stem girdling roots the tree has a much better chance of thriving in the landscape.
