– Garth Ruff OSU Extension Henry County
Girdled roots are never good. Photo: BYGL
Following up on last week’s spring check-list, this is a great time when you are outdoors to check your trees and shrubs for girdling roots before the grass starts to grow or the mulch is applied.
So what is a girding root?
They are roots that cross over the flare at the base of a tree or shrub. They come in all shapes and sizes. Some are small and some are big and numerous. However, all can do harm to the tree. The remedy is to find them when they are small and cut or saw them away from the trunk of the tree.
What can cause girdling roots?
Sometimes, in the course of nursery production, growers will miss removing the girdling root. A healthy tree should have a good basal flare without any crossing roots. Sometimes girdling roots can be caused when trees are over mulched or “volcano” mulched, so try to avoid over mulching.