Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00001658
11/12/99

Girdling Roots


A tree is girdled when something is wrapped tightly around
the trunk, choking off the flow of water and nutrients.
Some trees, particularly maples, can girdle themselves
with roots that grow around the trunk. As the trunk and
root increase in size, the trunk is girdled.

Perhaps the earliest symptom is a reduction in leaf size
on the branches supplied by roots below the girdling root.
These branches will develop fall color (Vis. 1) earlier than
the rest of the tree. Eventually the branches die. If the
tree has more than one girdling root, the entire tree may
show symptoms.

A girdling root will affect the appearance of the tree
trunk. Most trunks flare out or get wider where they
enter the ground. A girdling root will prevent the flare.
In some cases, the trunk will actually get narrower. A
long, sunken area may occur in the trunk where the portion
affected by the girdling root did not grow as well as the
surrounding trunk.

When you suspect a girdling root, carefully remove the
soil down to where the roots connect to the tree
(generally 12 to 18 inches down). Inspect the trunk for
girdling roots.

You can remove girdling roots, but the results may not
always be desirable. Girdling roots are functioning
roots, so removing them may kill branches not now
affected. The presence of many girdling roots aggravates
the problem. After removing girdling roots, fertilize the
tree and water during dry weather.


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