Stem Girdling Root Removal in Established Trees

Stem Girdling roots are a root dysfunction where laterally or circularly growing roots compress stem tissue. This can lead to reduced vigor, stem damage, increased likelihood of basal failure, and tree death. With some readily available tools, you can perform an inspection and help alleviate this issue.
For More information on stem girdling roots:
conservancy.um...
conservancy.um...
For more information about proper planting practices to avoid this issue:
• Pot bound root systems...

[@TonyMontgomery18]

This is a great one-stop-shopping introduction to the subject. I really like how the video is done, your energy is chill, the pacing is great, not too fast or slow, and you get all the important details covered. And you go straight to showing one of the more difficult girdling-root situations I've seen, ...often the roots can be removed without the guesswork involved when it's that grown-into the trunk...so it helps give confidence for those trickier situations. Great video imo. Thank you very much!!

[@puppettree7257]

The flare clearing work was done well. Pretty much in line with the standard procedure in the root management standard. And the editing was very well done! The root is still girdling the stem. A cut could be made just beyond the point of grafting, using a chainsaw and then a chisel. It would be good to review the literature before delving into unfamiliar practices! The July 2007 edition of Tree Care Industry magazine shows some examples of removing embedded portions, like the one left in this video. And the proceeds of the third Landscape below ground conference has a peer reviewed protocol at the very end. If there are any questions or comments about these two references I would be happy to answer them.

[@JohnsmithQqqq]

I am a Dendrologist from Ontario Canada who works for the Ontario forestry service. I would do this girding root procedure much differently with near perfect results. -Cut the root minimum of double the distance from the tree. -Use a bottle jack and force the root to peel away from the tree anchor point. - I will guarantee you that even though the root appears grafted to the trunk….. It is not 🥸

[@danedeturk9708]

I was thinking similar to that but pop it out using your truck with a tow strap after you make the cut...if you can get your truck up in there...

[@trueblack6760]

Oh, thank you for posting educational video like this. I become to understand this stem girdling root symptom is a kind of slow suicidal process for tree. And you are good at teaching thing naturally. thx

[@bman6678]

From my experience as a horticulturist air spading and removing stem girdling roots. I like to stay under 25% root cuts or less of the DBH of the tree. I also stay away from cutting roots that have grafted to the tree. That root I cannot tell but seems to be grafted possibly and is huge for the DBH.

[@murphy4trees]

tough call on that one.. The cut you made is going to have zero effect on the girdling problem for about next decade or more. You didn't remove any portion of that root that was touching the main stem. The main stem would have to grow quite a bit wider to reach the effected area, so again, what you did has zero chance of having any beneficial effect for at least another 10 years. On the other hand making that large cut on the roots of a tree that size could kill it well before the 10+ years you''' have to wait for any beneficial effect. My experience in dealing with girdling roots is limited, but what I have seen would indicate that by the time a tree reaches that size, it's too late for root pruning to do it much good. If you are going to cut girdling roots, you need to get the trees when they are much younger.

[@larryseibold4287]

This was good advice, and useful to normal people. i wish air spades were more available. they are insanely expensive to buy or rent, costing thousands of dollars. Clearly there is a problem with patent. So many trees would be improved safely even years after becoming established.

[@kimchee94112]

You could use a high pressure wash but be ready to go in the house to take a shower to remove all that mud.

[@esbrasill]

@@kimchee94112 I was going to say exactly that

[@garyhoch8552]

How often can the removal of the girdles roots save a tree? 50% 80% 100%? I was told by an arborist that efforts to remove mine (for $1,400) wouldn't save it so I'm wondering if I should bother. It's a beautiful sugar maple and I figure why not? I can likely do it myself and if its going to die anyway...I'm thinking of going for it and try to save it.

[@paradiselost9946]

@@garyhoch8552 grab an air compressor, go for it. all it can do is get better... or worse. sadly, by the time the tree is looking poorly enough for you to do anything, it may be too late...

[@zoponex3224]

​@@garyhoch8552wish you had gotten an answer.

[@InsatiableMonkey]

I know there's a risk, but I'd have loved to see you carefully remove the root that was integrated into the with the oscillating tool. I don't know what's best, but it would've been satisfying to see.

[@arboristprotrees9766]

I use that same makita osalating tool and also a chisel and hammer along with Loppers and glasses . Great work. I would have put a shallow relief notch back at the ridge of that root a little bit also but with a chisel . just me.

[@Puda]

And it won't kill the tree moving forward? I man it's CLOSE to the trunk and you are usually not supposed to remove roots larger than 2 inches.

[@danielplainview4587]

You didn't discuss what your expectations were for this particular tree by making such a cut.

[@amyreaves8054]

Thank you!

[@Rythmdoc]

Great video, thanx!

[@SK-hj8ss]

Backpack blower can make this easier too.

[@kimchee94112]

What's with the ear protection? A chainsaw would go much faster. Would suckers form if the the root not removed?

[@lillianfulgham9280]

Less control with a chainsaw and you'd damage your blades or the tree. And, you'd have to use the tip of the saw while holding it vertical...very dangerous because of kickback and plus, I wouldn't want my saw that close to the soil.

[@naomizurcher8426]

This is not work that should be done b ",ost people" but rather an Arborist and an AirSpade® or an AirKnife® are the tools of choice Using manual tools guarantees root damage. When you insert your manual tool, you cannot see if there are any roots and once you connect with a root, the damage is done.

[@Doctoranthetardis]

The tree's actually dying because it realized it was planted in minnesota.

[@joemilton7552]

that's not a haiku, and since you're king of them, I expected more

[@arboristprotrees9766]

hardy har har.

[@chancepaladin]

perfect vid, thanks!

[@georgewood3603]

A lesson on tool use???

[@larietournelle7904]

😁 ?? 8:57 And after this root gonna be in contact of a moist soil. I dont understand why cut here ...

[@chukster71]

I assume "stem" means "trunk"

[@Time782]

Do you have any advice for the care of the tree after this procedure? Perhaps a fertilization schedule? Watering?

[@bme7491]

When you're done with the work, you leaf.

[@NordicDan]

When did Dave Grohl become an arborist??

[@zoponex3224]

He is a real Renaissance man!

[@Stephen_Strange]

Thank you - very informative and to the point.

[@f.demascio1857]

I wish i had seen this video 3 years ago. Ive got a dead elm with an identical stem girdling root.

[@josephbrantley3953]

There is not a t in the word across

[@dahveedl3133]

Diagnosis the tree with stem girdling roots. Fails to mention the gaping hole pretty much at eye level. 9:45

[@tested123]

step 2 with the knife looks so dangerous. why not a small spade? sharp but not slice you open sharp.

[@lillianfulgham9280]

So is a soil knife, which is what he is using.