Warning Signs of Root Damage in Your Trees

A tree in the yard has been looking a bit worse for wear of late? You may be wondering if there is some sort of trouble brewing underfoot and want to be sure you can identify it before the tree is a hazard.

We are here to put your mind at ease. Since 2015 Birch Tree Care has put the needs of Twin Cities homeowners first, with our ISA Certified Arborists on hand to detect issues at an early stage. Should you have any concerns, pick up the phone and speak with us at (651) 504-6097.

The thing about root damage is it is hard to come by since the roots are out of sight. Yet the tree will make its displeasure known if you know what to look for.

The Importance of Healthy Roots

Roots are not simply there to anchor the tree. They provide stability in high winds and storms, they store energy and draw in the water and nutrients the tree needs. When they are compromised through poor drainage, disease, compacted soil or construction work, you will see the consequences above ground in due course.

In Minnesota the clay soils, the wet springs and the freeze and thaw we get here can be hard on a root system. One year a tree is in fine shape, the next you see it in decline because the roots have been put under stress.

Do Not Overlook These Indicators

It is easy to miss certain warning signs. We have listed below the usual suspects when it comes to root damage:

• The upper canopy is thinning out or has fewer leaves than in years past
• Leaves are discolored, smaller than they should be or falling off ahead of schedule
• Crown dieback in the form of dead branches up top
• The tree has taken on a lean where it was upright before
• Fungal growth or mushrooms in the root zone or at the base
• The soil around the trunk is heaving or cracked from roots moving about
• Roots that are loose or exposed

One or two of these could be an issue; put them all together and you would do well to have a professional have a look.

What Lies Behind Root Damage

If you are aware of the causes you can stave off trouble down the road. Some of the more frequent offenders are quite preventable:

• Digging or construction that puts too much pressure on a tree, severing or crushing the roots
• Vehicles or foot traffic that compacts the soil
• Trenching for an irrigation line or utilities
• Grade changes or fill dirt that cover over the root flare
• Standing water and overwatering to the point of suffocation
• Pests and diseases of the plant

More often than not root damage is a slow and quiet affair. The roots may have been in trouble for a season before the canopy betrays it.

Make an Early Move

There is no point in having a tree that is an eyesore and a potential danger to your family, vehicles and home. A tree with a weakened root structure is apt to go down in one of the strong storms the Twin Cities are prone to.

But we can save many a tree if we get to it in time with our tree treatment and plant health care services. And for those that cannot be salvaged, we will see to their safe removal so as not to leave a hazard.

Let Birch Tree Care Put in Some Work

Our approach is not just to put out fires. With GIS technology we can map and inventory trees for property owners to monitor their condition. We are also active in the community with the Watermark Community Tree Planting and the Fridley Emerald Ash Borer Program.

Fully licensed and insured, our arborists are at your service 24/7. We work with homeowners in Anoka, Hennepin, Northern Dakota, Ramsey and Washington Counties, from Minneapolis and St. Paul to Woodbury, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie and on.

Rather than let the next storm tell you how bad the damage is, contact Birch Tree Care for a professional tree risk assessment. Call (651) 504-6097 to set up a Free Inspection and our certified arborists will give your trees the attention they warrant.