RESEARCH LABORATORY

TECHNICAL REPORT

Girdling Roots Bruce R. Fraedrich, PhD, Plant Pathology

Girdling roots are lateral roots that emerge at or slightly below the soil surface and cut into at least one side of the
main trunk. These roots restrict the movement of water and nutrients to the leaves as they put pressure on the trunk.
Affected trunks/stems will eventually become weakened and the tree may die in five to fifteen years from the girdling
roots alone, or in conjunction with environmental stresses or insect/disease attack. Cultural practices like
fertilization, irrigation, and pruning will not offset the slow growth caused by girdled roots. Once identified, they
should be treated promptly.

Causes and Prevention planting trees and shrubs with these circling roots, be
sure to loosen these roots from the container root ball
Buried root collar tissue and the formation of girdling and spread them out in the planting hole before back
roots is associated with placing too much soil over the filling. Circling roots two or more years old will be
roots. The formation of girdling roots is triggered by woody and may have to be cut and removed from the
nursery and transplanting practices, soil obstructions, root system because they will have taken the
and other unknown factors. permanent shape of the container and cannot bend
enough without breaking. Although this reduces the
When plants are held in containers for too long, many size of the root system, it will prevent the development
roots begin to circle around the pot (Figure 1). These of girdling roots in the future.
circling roots can eventually girdle the tree. When
When a planting hole is not dug wide enough or deep
Figure 1: Roots growing in containers frequently enough, bare-rooted stock may be twisted into the
begin circling if the plant is held in the container hole in order to make the plant fit. This undesirable
for too long practice can cause roots to encircle the trunk and
become girdling roots. Be certain to make planting
holes wider than the root area in order to prevent
girdling roots from forming.

Another major cause of girdling roots is planting in

very compacted soil where the new roots have
difficulty growing out of the planting hole and into the
surrounding hard soil. Roots can circle at the bottom
of the planting hole, not unlike those growing in an
undersized container. Eventually, several of these
roots can begin girdling the trunk (Figure 2). Other
soil obstructions like foundations, curbs, or large rocks

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can also deflect roots and may contribute in some greater depth. Frequently, they can be seen on the
cases to the development of girdling roots. surface where erosion has removed one or two inches
of soil from around the base of the trunk. Some
Figure 2: Roots circling a small planting hole. girdling roots will be present at the soil line.
These roots girdled the trunk, weakening the tree
and causing it to fail during a high wind event Treatment and Removal
A girdling root must be removed in a manner that will
minimize injury to the trunk cambium located
beneath the root. First, excavate soil from around the
girdling root, uncovering the entire length to be
removed. Using a chisel or saw, cut the root at a point
6 – 12” out from the trunk (Figure 3). The final cut is
made where the root attaches to the trunk. This
prevents the root from being pulled violently away
from the embedded area, causing extensive cambium
injury if the root happens to be under tension. It is
important to note that occasionally it is best to leave
the girdled root where it is after it has been cut as the
trunk and cambium would be damaged severely by
Symptoms and Detection gouging out the deeply embedded root. Detach and
remove the root if it is not embedded very deeply or
Trees which leaf out late, have small chlorotic leaves or
allow the root to decay away over time.
needles, drop their leaves early, and are dying back
should be checked for girdling roots, particularly if the Figure 3: Removal of a small girdling root located
normal flare or buttress swell is absent. Note, however, beneath the soil surface
that not all girdled trees exhibit the crown symptoms
commonly attributed to girdling roots.

Probably the most reliable aboveground indicator of a

girdling root is a trunk indentation or flattening at the
base of the bole. Non-girdled trees rarely show this
abnormal development.

Most affected trees are not severely girdled, with few

roots ever circling more than 50% around the bole.
Since most girdled trees are girdled by more than one Very large girdling roots should not be completely
root, careful examination around the entire removed since they may be supplying large amounts
circumference of the trunk may be necessary. Species of water and nutrients to the canopy. They may be
like sugar maple, Norway maple, and white pine are removed in stages over time to allow the tree to slowly
particularly prone to forming girdling roots. Soil compensate for the loss of water and nutrient flow. If
excavation is often needed to detect girdling roots. dieback occurs, removing dead branches is
recommended.
A large majority of girdling roots are found in the top
several inches of soil, although they can develop at a

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