How to deal with this girdling root on redbud planted 15 months ago

[mattalat]

Hey folks - I had this forest pansy redbud planted in February 2023 and I noticed what I think is a girdling root. Should I cut it out now with a chisel? Should I wait until it's in dormancy? Do I need an arborist to do it or can I do it myself? For reference, I'm in Texas and it's about to get very hot and dry if that matters in terms of timing.

 

Thank you!

[stevesmithh]

On 13/05/2024 at 06:29, mattalat said:

Hey folks - I had this forest pansy redbud planted in February 2023 and I noticed what I think is a girdling root. Should I cut it out now with a chisel? Should I wait until it's in dormancy? Do I need an arborist to do it or can I do it myself? For reference, I'm in Texas and it's about to get very hot and dry if that matters in terms of timing.

 

Thank you!

Hello @mattalat,

 

To address the girdling root on your redbud, it's best to cut it out now before it causes further damage. Use a chisel or a sharp tool to carefully remove it.

 

Ensure you water the tree adequately during the hot and dry Texas summer to help it recover. If you're unsure or uncomfortable doing it yourself, consult an arborist.

 

Additionally, you can go through this https://www.reddit.com/r/sfwtrees/comments/tghtbr/redbud_is_girdled_pretty_bad_would_it_be_okay_to_aws/?rdt=56615 for more assistance.

 

Thanks