Tree roots are an important part of any thriving ecosystem – and that includes your front yard. Roots
feed you trees and store the nutrients that each tree needs in order to stay healthy.
That being said, everyone has dealt with a tree whose roots have begun to grow up and out of the
ground. Needless to say, roots don’t offer the most aesthetic value and they’re also a huge pain in the
backside to landscape around. On one hand, you don’t want your tree’s roots to be damaged, but you
also don’t want your yard to look bad and become more of a chore than it already is.
So what do you do?
feed you trees and store the nutrients that each tree needs in order to stay healthy.
That being said, everyone has dealt with a tree whose roots have begun to grow up and out of the
ground. Needless to say, roots don’t offer the most aesthetic value and they’re also a huge pain in the
backside to landscape around. On one hand, you don’t want your tree’s roots to be damaged, but you
also don’t want your yard to look bad and become more of a chore than it already is.
So what do you do?
That’s what we’re here to talk about today. Here’s what you can do if you have a tree whose roots are
exposed.
Will exposed roots damage my tree?
The short answer is no. And just because you see tree roots doesn’t mean your tree is in trouble. In fact – it’s the opposite. Your tree is probably thriving. Roots growing up out of the ground are a sign that a tree is healthy and growing. Essentially – exposed roots is a good problem to have if you’re worried about the overall health of your tree.
The issue comes when roots are getting damaged by weed whackers, lawn mowers and the like. When the root gets damaged, the tree is then open to disease or insect infection; more so than they would if they had a cut or split somewhere else on the trunk. Healing these wounds can take a long time (we’re talking years) and need extra special care in order to get back to normal.
So yes – you want to make sure you don’t damage your roots. Just by their proximity to the ground,
they’re susceptible to a whole host of dangers.
How to landscape around exposed roots
We get it – mowing your lawn when you’re dealing with exposed roots can feel like you’re driving around a maze and can often times come out messy looking. It also limits what you can do with your
outdoor spaces – as patios or any seating areas located next to exposed roots can be susceptible to
heaving and the like.
Lucky for you, there are a few workarounds you can put to good use. The first is to mulch. Mulch can
conceal the tree roots, bump up the aesthetic appeal of the tree and give them greater access to a
whole host of new nutrients and the like.
Second, you can always use other plants to cover them up. By that, we mean things like ferns. Yes, it’ll
provide a little competition for water and other nutrients, but with a little extra TLC and attention, both should thrive just fine.
The last thing you can do is cover up the roots with soil, but we recommend using caution as you don’t want to do it all at once. Instead, add a half inch to an inch of soil at a time with 2-3 week intervals in between. That’ll allow the roots to change and adapt to their new surroundings. You also need to be mindful of exactly what kind of soil you’re using – as things like clay soil can erode, compact and restrict water flow. Keep a light soil mixture around your tree that’s both loam and coarse sand.
Hopefully these tips will help you make the most out of this situation. However, if you find yourself still having issues with roots and don’t know what to do – or would like better guidance regarding something we laid out above, don’t hesitate to call and we’ll be happy to give you a free consultation.
Good luck!
exposed.
Will exposed roots damage my tree?
The short answer is no. And just because you see tree roots doesn’t mean your tree is in trouble. In fact – it’s the opposite. Your tree is probably thriving. Roots growing up out of the ground are a sign that a tree is healthy and growing. Essentially – exposed roots is a good problem to have if you’re worried about the overall health of your tree.
The issue comes when roots are getting damaged by weed whackers, lawn mowers and the like. When the root gets damaged, the tree is then open to disease or insect infection; more so than they would if they had a cut or split somewhere else on the trunk. Healing these wounds can take a long time (we’re talking years) and need extra special care in order to get back to normal.
So yes – you want to make sure you don’t damage your roots. Just by their proximity to the ground,
they’re susceptible to a whole host of dangers.
How to landscape around exposed roots
We get it – mowing your lawn when you’re dealing with exposed roots can feel like you’re driving around a maze and can often times come out messy looking. It also limits what you can do with your
outdoor spaces – as patios or any seating areas located next to exposed roots can be susceptible to
heaving and the like.
Lucky for you, there are a few workarounds you can put to good use. The first is to mulch. Mulch can
conceal the tree roots, bump up the aesthetic appeal of the tree and give them greater access to a
whole host of new nutrients and the like.
Second, you can always use other plants to cover them up. By that, we mean things like ferns. Yes, it’ll
provide a little competition for water and other nutrients, but with a little extra TLC and attention, both should thrive just fine.
The last thing you can do is cover up the roots with soil, but we recommend using caution as you don’t want to do it all at once. Instead, add a half inch to an inch of soil at a time with 2-3 week intervals in between. That’ll allow the roots to change and adapt to their new surroundings. You also need to be mindful of exactly what kind of soil you’re using – as things like clay soil can erode, compact and restrict water flow. Keep a light soil mixture around your tree that’s both loam and coarse sand.
Hopefully these tips will help you make the most out of this situation. However, if you find yourself still having issues with roots and don’t know what to do – or would like better guidance regarding something we laid out above, don’t hesitate to call and we’ll be happy to give you a free consultation.
Good luck!
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