Tree roots uncovered? Right here’s what to do.

Roots belong underground. So why do we frequently discover seen tree roots snaking alongside the soil floor within the garden or backyard?

Some sorts of bushes, akin to maples, poplars and willows, naturally have shallow or uncovered roots, in keeping with Sharon Yiesla, plant information specialist on the Plant Clinic of The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. For others, uncovered roots are prone to have been pressured out of the soil by adversarial rising situations.

Most bushes’ roots usually lie a number of inches under floor, spreading out horizontally from the bottom of a tree. Though they’re lined in soil, they’re shut sufficient to the floor that air and water can seep down to achieve them. The massive anchoring roots department out right into a busy community of slender feeder roots that take in the air and water.

That cozy protection could be disrupted in various methods. Generally the issue is erosion — wind or water that sweeps soil away from across the roots. Timber rising close to streams typically have roots uncovered by erosion.

In confined areas, such because the parkway areas alongside streets and in yards hemmed in by sidewalks, driveways and buildings, roots could be deflected to the floor after they run into obstacles. “Roots need to go someplace,” Yiesla stated. “In the event that they don’t have sufficient house under floor, they’ll go the place they will.”

Poor soil situations, akin to densely compacted clay soil, can also spur roots to develop on the floor. When air can’t penetrate the soil, roots could develop as much as search it. Or they could be making an attempt to flee soil that’s continually too moist.

The freeze-and-thaw cycle of late winter can also crack soil and heave shallow roots up. Development tasks typically expose bushes’ roots.

Uncovered roots could be annoying as a result of they impede the garden mower or trigger tripping hazards, or as a result of they appear ugly. However the roots are nonetheless doing crucial work to help the tree. “They’re the tree’s anchors and braces,” Yiesla stated. “They’re bodily holding it up.” The connected feeder roots are additionally gathering the water and vitamins the tree wants to remain alive.

For that motive, it’s by no means a good suggestion to attempt to take away floor roots. “The tree can’t spare any of them,” she stated. Should you attempt to lower them away — or in case your garden mower’s blade cuts into them — the injuries you create could admit disease-causing organisms or begin rot that may undermine the tree.

As a substitute, shelter them. “The most effective factor you are able to do for uncovered roots is to unfold a protecting layer of mulch over them,” she stated. Because you received’t mow in that mulch zone, the roots might be secure out of your garden mower blades in addition to foot visitors.

A great mulch product — normally chipped or shredded wooden — might be porous sufficient to let air and water attain the roots. The mulch will insulate the roots to make them much less weak to frost heaving and can encourage development of feeder roots. Unfold it in a good layer 3 to 4 inches deep with out piling it in opposition to the tree’s trunk.

You may as well tuck shade-tolerant shrubs and perennials between the roots to create a backyard that takes within the space the place they’re uncovered.

Why not simply lay sod or unfold topsoil over the tree roots, since they’re alleged to be underground? That’s additionally a nasty concept, Yiesla stated: “You’re prone to find yourself burying them too deeply, the place the feeder roots can’t get air.” Even a 1-inch layer of soil could be sufficient to smother roots.

“Uncovered roots are uncovered for a motive,” Yiesla stated. Some bushes simply develop that approach, and may’t be satisfied to vary. Others are struggling to cope with a poor web site. Except you possibly can repair the underlying drawback — the erosion or confined house or poor soil — roots will proceed to search out their technique to the floor.

“The most effective factor to do is create a protected space across the roots,” she stated.

For tree and plant recommendation, contact the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum (630-719-2424, mortonarb.org/plant-clinic, or [email protected]). Beth Botts is a workers author on the Arboretum.