damage to tree roots

[Giles Hill]

Thanks Giles,

 

I've got the book, where does it say which trees are more tolerant of root damage than others?

 

Also, where is the research into the amounts of damage a tree can take?

 

It's not quite as simple as that, as that as I was trying to suggest in the last post. Some species seem to be more tolerant than others, but a lot will depend on the age of the tree, it's vigour and it's environment.

 

Likewise with how much damage / disturbance they will take.

 

I think the book does give quite a few clues though - for example, the section on transplanting is relevant - trees with fibrous roots transplant more readily than ones with woody roots and it's probably not a coincidence that the woody rooted ones are also species that are often considered to be more intolerant of root damage when mature.

 

Also the information about how some species tolerate compacted ground better than others.

Edited December 23, 2009 by Giles Hill

[Giles Hill]

Giles not forgot about the Terram inof data, will find it over christmas and email it over

 

Thanks Chris!

[Lee Winger]

Lee,

 

Care to expand?

 

I find it very difficult to believe that a healthy tree would not react and recover from minor damage to its roots.

 

If this was the case, what would be the point of remediation works?

 

Minor damage yes, compaction we can help with that problem also, as for remediation works, I prefer prevention rather than try to cure

[Bundle 2]

You might find this helpful....

 

Roots - Landscape plants - Edward F. Gilman - UF/IFAS

[James]

Thanks for the replies everyone, interesting stuff. I've already read most of the suggested literature, but the one posted by Bundle 2 was new to me - thanks.

 

From what I can gather there seem to be no body of research into the effects of root damage on established trees.

 

But there is a wealth of literature telling us what we can and can't do near trees based on guess work and the personal experience of the author.

 

Most of my work is with trees on development sites, and I'd be really interested in knowing more about both the effectiveness of remediation work available and people's experiences of what happens to trees when the roots are damaged.

 

My personal experience is that in some situations trees can take a lot more direct damage than the literature suggests.

[James]

Arborist Sites, it sounds like you might have some interesting case studies. Any chance of talking to you about them?

 

It would be useful to know someone who I could pass this sort of work onto.

[Bundle 2]

If you also interested in the stability aspects of tree root damage...you gotta try a google using the name " Smiley"

I have number of files that I can post up if youre interested.

I was disappointed when I discovered there was no accommodation for data file embedding on home pages ( ie-user created "home page ")- within this website....so I never bothered posting much really after....Has this changed atall? Alls U could do was put up pics. Great but a bit limited........

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Thanks for the replies everyone, interesting stuff. I've already read most of the suggested literature, but the one posted by Bundle 2 was new to me - thanks.

 

From what I can gather there seem to be no body of research into the effects of root damage on established trees.

 

But there is a wealth of literature telling us what we can and can't do near trees based on guess work and the personal experience of the author.

 

Most of my work is with trees on development sites, and I'd be really interested in knowing more about both the effectiveness of remediation work available and people's experiences of what happens to trees when the roots are damaged.

 

My personal experience is that in some situations trees can take a lot more direct damage than the literature suggests.

 

Whilst the tree may take the abuse developers would like to give them, the ingress of decay/pathogens etc should be considere as much below ground as above, probably more so given the nature of the environment below ground.

[Bundle 2]

This the angle you got on it James?

root system dev.pdf

root severance.pdf

[Bundle 2]

If its trees on development sites, this may be helpful.

Tree Roots-Perry.pdf

Root conflict.pdf

Tree roots.pdf