Tag root disturbance

The roots of trees serve many functions, there are specific ones used for stabilizing while others are used for absorbing water and nutrients. While we tend to pay attention to what is easily visible like the canopy of the tree, roots need to be cared for just as much, if not more.

The best way to care for roots is by leaving them undisturbed. In a perfect urban setting that would look like a tree’s entire drip line (canopy) covered with mulch with minimal foot traffic. While this is not possible for many homeowners, reducing root disturbance is the next best thing.

Common Root Disturbances in Urban Areas:

Chemical disturbance:

• Weed and feed
• Interior/ Exterior paint brushes and tools rinsed outdoors
• Pool water, both saltwater and chlorine
• Gas leaks

Mechanical disturbance:

• Compression
• Trenching – plumbing, irrigation, cement work
• Install of new sod or fake turf
• Grading or changing the soil
• Landscaping rocks

Often when we think of roots we imagine large support roots in the ground, when it is the fine absorbing roots in the top few inches of soil that keep the tree alive. When these roots are cut, or the soil around them is compressed the roots die.

A healthy tree can sustain some root damage, but a tree under stress, like one living in a city and not in forest, can not sustain this type of stress for long because this is most likely not the only stressor the tree is enduring. Often we see trees die years later from root disturbance after they have used up all of its stored nutrients.

Some species respond more drastically than others to root stress. Species that do very poorly are; post oaks, magnolias, red oaks, dogwoods, and sweet gums.

There are times that roots will be disturbed by an arborist or tree health care technician to improve tree health. 

• Air spading is done to decompact soil so the tree is able to better absorb air, water and nutrients
• Root pruning in a younger tree will be done to correct girdling roots

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! If you are planning to remodel, do new landscape, or installation of sod we would love to help safeguard your trees. We are rooting for trees. Contact us today!

At Texas Tree Surgeons we love trees. This is our top 10 list of tree trends that got to go in 2024!

• Topped Crape Myrtles
  • Just stop! It is a weird trend in North Texas that is based solely on aesthetics and doesn’t increase bloom production.
• Artificial Turf *
  • What’s worse than grass, artificial grass? It may look perfect, but it will kill your tree. 
• Decorative Rocks at the Base of Trees
  • Who decided heavy rocks at the base of trees is more attractive than mulch? It adds weight and during the summer extra heat to cook your tree roots. If you want to hide your roots, we suggest mulch. It looks great, and benefits the health of your tree.
• Lack of Tree Protection During Construction
  • Leading killer of urban trees is construction due to soil compaction. This could be easily prevented with consultation from a certified arborist.
• Improperly Pruned Trees
  • Improperly pruned trees, like lion tailing, ruins the structural ability of the tree which causes damage to its overall health. Avoid this risk by only hiring an ISA Certified Arborist for tree services. 
• Use of Weed & Feed *
  • The chemicals used on consumer products like weed & feed misrepresent its effects on trees. By nature weed & feed is designed to kill woody stemmed plants. Trees are woody stemmed plants.
• Relying on Sprinkler Systems to Water Trees
  • A common mistake people make is assuming that their sprinkler systems will adequately water their trees. Sprinkler systems were designed with lawns in mind and not trees. Trees need to be watered with a soaker hose or garden hose on slow, low pressure.
• Root Disturbance
  • The roots of a tree need to be cared for as much, if not more than the canopy of tree. Best way to care for them? Leave them untouched.
• Incorrectly Planted Trees
  • Trees are an investment, taking the time to plant a tree correctly will ensure your tree will thrive and increase the value of your home.
• Waiting Till There are Signs of Stress to Contact an Arborist
  • Preventive care is the best care. Having a certified arborist  that regularly assesses and understands the local environment in relation to your specific tree will ensure it will remain healthy in the long term. Waiting until there are signs of stress in a tree’s canopy incurs more cost and harm.

* (these articles will be released in the near future, check back to read)

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! What are your top ten harmful tree trends that need to go? We would love to know.

An urban tree’s lifespan is significantly shorter than one found in a forest. Why? Short answer, humans. The thought that trees are fine without us is true. This is why trees in a forest are fine but trees in an urban environment aren’t. Once humans began planting them around us or moved into their space we started to kill them, of course not intentionally.

Unlike a tree in a forest, trees living amongst people in cities begin their life cycle under stress. 

Problems Trees in an Urban Environment Face:

• They do not have other trees nearby to share nutrients with
• They do not have other trees to protect them from wind and sun 
• Their soil is contaminated with byproduct of cities; chemicals, paint, chlorine
• They have limited area to grow due to streets, sidewalks, power lines, and driveways
• They experience root disturbance from plumbing, construction, or trenching
• Temperatures in a city is higher due to concrete and less shade from other trees

These stressors impact the trees quality of life and because of this urban trees need extra assistance from humans to correct these man made problems they would not run into if they were in a forest.

Amazing Tree Facts:

• Methuselah, Bristlecone Pine  is considered the oldest living organism on earth and is thought to be over 4,789 years old
• Pando is believed to be the largest living organism ever found at 13 million pounds
• Plano Quadricentennial bur oak was the oldest living tree in DFW until it failed during a storm in 2023

At Texas Tree Surgeons we are urban arborists, not foresters, and are trained and educated to care for the specific needs of urban trees. We love trees, and we hope you do too. We have a basic homeowners guide to trees so you too can keep your trees healthy.