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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.
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. See: more on correcting deep planting.
