We all love a towering tree planted in our gardens, but do you realize that your trees’ health may be dependent on the state of the root system? Understanding how to take care of a tree’s roots ensures healthy tree growth for your shady friends. Use this guide to learn more about valuable tips that will help your trees grow healthy roots.

Keep the Soil Healthy

Healthy soil supports healthy roots. Here are practical ways to protect both.

• Aerate the Soil – Compacted soil hinders root growth and diminishes the root’s capacity to take on water and oxygen. Aerate areas around your trees, especially where there might be heavy foot traffic. This action lets the roots breathe.
• Mulching Counts – Apply a 2–4 inch layer of organic mulch, such as wood chips or shredded bark, over the root area to conserve soil moisture, moderate soil temperature, reduce weeds, and protect the trunk from mower and string-trimmer damage. Keep mulch several inches away from the trunk and never pile it against the bark in a “mulch volcano.”

Avoid Damage To Your Trees’ Healthy Roots

Roots can be damaged more easily than you might think. Here’s how to avoid injuring them.

• Watch Your Digging – Before digging, find the roots, and don’t trench near your tree. If digging is necessary, use hand tools and dig as gently as possible.
• Mind the Mower – Mowers and weed whackers can severely damage tree roots and bark. Create a mulch bed around the surface area of the base of a tree to avoid mowing too close.
• Construction Protection – Are you going to put in a new driveway? Protect the roots of nearby trees and provide adequate distance from heavy machinery. Soil compaction and other long-term damage are debilitating to the tree – they take years to recover.

Protect the Critical Root Zone

The critical root zone is the area of soil around a tree where important roots need protection from digging, soil compaction, grade changes, and heavy equipment. A practical starting point is to protect a radius of 1 foot from the trunk for every 1 inch of trunk diameter, measured about 4.5 feet above the ground.

For example, a tree with a 12-inch trunk diameter needs an approximate 12-foot protected radius around the trunk and because roots may extend to or beyond the outer edge of the canopy, use the larger of the two areas—the calculated root zone or the tree’s drip line—when planning work near a tree.

Keep vehicles, construction materials, soil piles, trenching, and heavy foot traffic outside this area whenever possible. If construction or utility work must occur near a mature tree, consult an arborist before work begins.

Applying Fertilizer Properly For Healthy Tree Roots

While trees do need fertilizer, too much of anything is as bad as nothing. Here’s how to fertilize wisely.

• Soil Testing – Have your soil tested before you fertilize to determine its nutrient content.
• Slow and Steady – Feed your trees gradually during the growing season. It prevents overfeeding and root burn.

Keep an Eye on Your Roots

Regular root health checkups solve potential problems before they manifest as big issues. Here are some tips on what to look for when assessing your tree’s roots.

• Exposed Roots – Surface roots are common in many mature trees and should not be cut, buried under soil, or covered with a deep layer of mulch. Protect them from mower damage and soil compaction with a wide, shallow mulch bed. If roots are suddenly exposed after erosion, excavation, or a change in soil grade, have an arborist assess the tree.
• Root Rot – Yellowing leaves, stunted growth, or a spongy area at the root base may be the first signal of this disease. If you suspect your tree is showing the symptoms of root rot, call in the services of a professional arborist. They can diagnose and treat your trees properly.
• Pest Patrol – Watch the root systems for evidence of fungi or insect infestations that attack and destroy their roots. Healthy trees stand up to infestation better than those with poorly developed root systems.

Get to the Root of the Problem – Call in the Tree Professionals

A healthy tree is your best defense against pest infestations. While every gardener should be aware of the basics of tree maintenance, sometimes you may need to call professionals. They have the skills and equipment to handle maintenance duties.

Problems with tree roots must be properly diagnosed and treated by a professional arborist to ensure your trees are healthy and ready for the growing season.

Tree Services of Omaha – Tree Removal Services

Tree Services of Omaha, Nebraska is a full-service tree care provider that offers a wide range of arborist services including but not limited to: Tree Removal Services, Tree Trimming, Tree Pruning, Tree and shrubs Shaping, Stump Removal, Stump Grinding, Emerald Ash Borer Treatment, Arborist Consultations, Systemic Tree Injection (Tree Healthcare).

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