Like veins and arteries, roots transport nutrients throughout the tree’s system. Even if its branches and trunk fall over or get destroyed, some trees can still survive as long as the root system does. With that in mind, how much root damage can a tree take before it cannot recover?
Knowing the general impact of root damage on tree health can prove crucial to how you hire tree services in Newnan, GA. Let’s talk about it and figure out whether your trees could be in danger.
Common Causes of Root Damage
Most homeowners don’t go out of their way to kill their trees. The problem could be that you unknowingly damage your tree’s roots through other, unrelated work in your yard:
- Plumbing: Pipe installation, trench digging
- Soil Compaction: Heavy machinery rolling over roots, heavy foot traffic
- Non-Tree Landscaping: Mowing over exposed roots, tilling near feeder roots
You could also damage your tree due to poor care habits, such as under- or over-watering, improper fertilization, and more. However, trees can be hardy, and damage done to them is often reversible with the right recovery methods.
How Durable Are Trees?
So, how much root damage can a tree take before it breaks down? Does it depend on which types of roots sustain injury? After all, you can summarize a tree’s roots into two main types: woody and feeder.
Woody roots tend to be thicker and may have bark on them. They provide stability and ground the tree. Harm to them will endanger the structural stability of damaged trees.
Feeder roots, smaller and thinner with little to no protective covering, absorb much more water and nutrients. They stay closer to the surface of the soil, while woody roots go deeper down. Harm to them will cause premature weakening and wilting.
In general, a tree can handle roughly 20% of its roots being damaged before suffering major issues.
Signs of Tree Stress From Root Injury
We noted a few tree stress signs, but wanted to describe some more thoroughly, such as:
- Branch dieback
- Sudden trunk tilting
- Poor tree appearance
- Strange fungal growth
- Off-season color changes
- Unusually slow tree growth
- Unexplained twig or bud death
If you notice any of these signs, you may have neared or gone over the 20% mark.
Preventative Measures
To prevent tree root damage in Newnan, GA, you can pick up a few good tree care habits, like:
- Putting a layer of mulch around your tree so you don’t disturb the roots
- Drilling small air pockets into the ground near the roots and filling them with airy material, like perlite, to let them breathe
- Using critical root zone preservation tactics when doing other work in the yard
Take Care of Your Trees
Boss Tree Service specializes in tree care, from tree inspection services to tree removal. How much root damage can a tree take before we have to take it down? Call (770) 251-8000 to schedule your consultation and let us take a look today.
You can also check here to find out what happens to tree roots after stump grinding.