Girdled roots

[David Humphries]

Yew root girdling an oak buttress

 

tree looks content with the situation

 

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[treeseer]

How comfortable is it with that constriction? With the fungal colonisation around the corner, perhaps ungirdling will allow better conduction, and compartmentalisation.

[David Humphries]

perhaps releasing would have benefits Guy, but not one of my trees.

This one sits in woodland on a National Trust site, unlikely to be seen as an issue.

 

What intrigued me about this one was incompatability of of host and girdler.

The oak is never likely to absorb its strangular?

 

 

Inonotus dryadeus colonisation less a case of round the corner, more like in full throttle

 

 

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[arbwork]

pics on Elm from site

[David Humphries]

Woodland oak with a self girdling root that has a collection of canker type growth nodules.

 

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[Will Heal]

I work on an mod contract and some of the work was to cut the girdling roots of any trees that had them. Is this a good idea or not?

[David Humphries]

I work on an mod contract and some of the work was to cut the girdling roots of any trees that had them. Is this a good idea or not?

 

What was the reasoning for the spec?

 

I think it generally depends on whether the girdler is causing any dysfunction in the buttress or stem that's it's constricting, and whether it's deeply grafted and likely to cause damage by removing it and creating a wound that could get colinisation by root/butt pathogens.

 

 

 

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[Will Heal]

Not sure of the reason, but we seemed to do a lot of unnecessary work to trees on this site, lots of crown thins, nearly every tree on the site had work on it..

Thanks for your reply, I will think about it more before I cut any now

[David Humphries]

This root appears to giving a helping 'hand' to keep this leaning chestnut upright.

 

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Edited April 21, 2016 by David Humphries

[treeseer]

Giving a hand hahaha that's good! After a rain one could wiggle the ends loose to relieve girdling, even lay a stick to delay re-girdling.

 

As a contract spec yes more detail re grafting and harm should be specified. This adapted from the US standard--comments welcome! Flare Clearing Protocol

Scope: Any tree flares that are not completely visible.

Objectives: Clear trunk and flare to enable inspection and (if necessary) treatment. Prevent possible damage to the tree from the effects of any material contacting trunk tissue. Increase the tree’s health and safety, using tools such as a rake, fork, shovel, trowel, lopping shears, hand pruners, chisel, brush, water, heat, and air.

Steps:

Clear around the trunk any foreign material, rocks, coarse woody debris or fresh mulch.

Position the blade of a shovel or a trowel against the trunk, pointing downward.

Slide the blade carefully downward until it is met with resistance. Avoid bark damage.

Push the handle toward the trunk, moving the blade away from the trunk.

Scoop the loose material away from the trunk and set aside.

Set aside fertile soil, fine roots, mycorrhizae, and decomposed mulch.

Separate and dispose of any infertile soil and debris.

Locate the flare and the largest roots coming off the trunk.

Locate and remove any stem-girdling roots that are <5 cm (2”) diameter and <10% of the trunk diameter, using tools such as a lopping shears, hand pruners, or chisel.

Manage larger roots per A300 84.4 below. *Avoid damaging tree tissue with trowel or shovel.*

Repeat until trunk and flare are clear.

Clear any loose material from the the bottom of the flare using hand tools, compressed water and/or compressed air.to expose the bark. Allow to dry before final inspection.

Assess conditions and consider continuing to the root collar (where buttress roots divide) to meet the objective.

**If decay or oozing is present**

Scrape, brush, or rinse dead material. Stop at green or white tissue.

Locate the source of moisture fluxing. Apply heat using tools such as a mirror or a torch, until steaming stops.

Maintain drier conditions by increasing water drainage.

Use a metal rod or a watering wand to make holes between the buttress roots. Avoid bark damage. Move tool to make cracks in soil.

Fill holes and replace soil around flare (15cm (6”) minimum) with specified amendments including expanded sterile aggregate such as pumice or lava.

(Brand names: Leca, Permatill)

Apply mulch on top of the aggregate to meet the surrounding soil level.

Incorporate or rake the excavated soil into the rootzone under the branch tips.

Ensure that the flare remains visible.

Tree Care Experts: Specifications for monitoring and maintaining tree health and stability should be established. When root loss is unavoidable, selective pruning shall be preferred.

ANSI A300 Standard 84.4: Selective root pruning – girdling roots

84.4.1 Roots that encircle or contact (girdle) the trunk or a buttress root should be considered for redirecting or pruning.

84.4.2 Girdling roots should be exposed before pruning cuts are planned or made.

84.4.3 Retain girdling roots that provide more benefit than damage.

84.4.4 Retain roots that cross other roots.

84.4.5 Avoid damage to the trunk and buttress roots beyond the scope of the work.

84.4.6 If more than one large girdling root is present, root pruning over time should be considered. If the bark under the girdling root has been compressed, consider scraping off the compressed bark. Stop when you reach living tissue.