Avoiding Exposed Roots                                                                                     Gardeners' Corner  Kids' Garden  Sustainable Garden  Contact Us

Innovate to Conserve Natural Resources                                                                                MGP Inc  1-800-574-7248
 
Home | About MGP | Gardeners' Corner | Gardening Basic | Regional Gardening | Search



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Estate tree box to reduce exposed root hazards

Cracked and raised pavement or bumps in the lawn caused by roots can be an annoying and sometimes hazardous elements in the urban landscape. Surface roots from trees can be caused by a variety of factors, but the most frequent cause is the selection and planting of shallow-rooted trees. To avoid problems with surface roots, avoid the following common, fast-growing species:

Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Mulberry (Morus sp.)
Sycamore (Plantanus sp. )
Poplar (Populus sp.)
Sumac (Rhus sp.)
Siberian Elm (Ulmus sp.)
 

Other suggestions to help reduce surface root problems include:

bullet

Plant only shrubs or ground covers in the planting strip between the sidewalk and the street. Plant large trees in the lawn where there will be sufficient room for root development. Before planting (especially in compacted soil), loosen the soil in an area at least five times the diameter of the root ball and about 12 inches deeper than the root ball.

bullet

Make sure drainage is adequate before planting new trees. Water-logged soil encourages the development of shallow roots as roots require oxygen to live and grow.

bullet

Use proper watering techniques. Over watering can cause water-logged soil, especially in a heavy clay. Frequent, light watering provides moisture only in the top few inches of soil, encouraging root development at the surface. So water deeply and only when needed

bullet

Problem of exposed root causing the cracked pavement can be reduced by building a tree box around the area to avoid possible dangerous hazards. At the same time beautify the location.

 


Our private policy for your protection
Copyright 2001. Master Garden Products. All Rights Reserved.
Send mail to webmaster@mastergardenproducts.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: August 28, 2014