Trees can provide everything from welcome shade on a hot summer's day to beautiful views and privacy from neighbours, but they can become dangerous if their roots are damaged. If a tree's roots are seriously weakened or broken, the tree itself will probably need to be taken down to prevent damage to the rest of your property.
As such, it's worth learning how to identify a damaged root system. With that in mind, here are five common signs of root damage.
1. Leaning
Some trees will lean naturally and remain perfectly stable. However, if you notice a tree leaning that was formally vertical or that a tree's lean has increased, you could be looking at a failing root system. Since trees are anchored to the ground by their roots, any weakening or damage of the roots can interfere with their ability to keep your tree stable. This is a serious issue since leaning trees with weakened roots are more likely to fall.
2. Yellow Leaves
If your tree's leaves are turning yellow, your tree probably isn't as healthy as it should be. Yellowing occurs when leaves aren't able to produce enough chlorophyll, and this will often happen when the affected leaves aren't receiving enough nutrients from the roots for proper growth. Since certain roots will provide nutrients to certain parts of your tree, you may notice yellowing only in one area.
3. Fungal Growth
Fungal infections are a common cause of root damage. They cause rot that can spread through a root system beneath the soil, so it can be hard to detect fungal growth at first. However, you may eventually notice mushrooms and other fungal growth around the base of an affected tree. In some cases, peeling back part of the bark may show a white fungal growth. If the situation is allowed to develop, fruiting bodies may even spread up to the canopy.
4. Branch Dieback
When a tree's health gradually declines, it is known as dieback, and this is often seen in certain branches when the roots have been damaged. If you notice that certain branches look weaker than others or even drop off your tree with no explanation, damaged roots could be the cause. This is most commonly seen on upper branches.
5. Dead Roots
Finally, you can always check the roots themselves for signs of poor health. This doesn't mean having to dig up your garden. Instead, you can simply remove a small patch of bark from one of the roots around the base of your tree. If the root is healthy, it should appear white and slightly moist. If it is damaged or dead, it will be brown and dry.
Reach out to tree loppers to learn more.
Share27 December 2022
Seeing a tree die can be sad, especially if it's the only shade tree in your yard, a tree you grew up climbing or a once bountiful fruit tree. However, surprisingly, many trees that people seem to give up on can actually be saved. I hate the idea of anyone losing a tree, so I decided to start a blog. This blog is going to have tips I have learned as a lifelong gardener as well as things I have learned while researching trees and botany in general. I hope you like these posts and that they eventually help you save a few trees!
