Glossary term
What is Girdling root?
Short answer
A girdling root is a root that circles the trunk or another root and slowly squeezes it.
Girdling root, explained for tree service owners
A girdling root grows around the base of a trunk instead of out into the soil. As both grow thicker, the root presses on the trunk and can cut off the flow of water and sugars. It often starts in a nursery pot or from planting a tree too deep. Signs include a trunk that goes straight into the ground with no flare, a thin crown, or early fall color. For a tree service owner, checking for girdling roots on planting and care jobs is a good habit. Removing a small girdling root early can help a tree, while a large one may need an arborist's advice. Be honest that results vary.
Related terms
- Arborist
Arborist is a trained tree care professional who plans and performs work on trees, including pruning, removal, tree health care and…
- Crown
Crown is the upper part of a tree made of branches, twigs and leaves, growing from the trunk.
- Buttress roots
Buttress roots are wide, thick roots at the base of a trunk that help hold a tree upright.
- Cambium
Cambium is the thin layer of living cells just under the bark that makes new wood inward and new bark outward each year.
- Canopy
Canopy is the layer of branches and leaves formed by the crowns of a tree or of many trees together.
- Conifer
A conifer is a tree that makes seeds in cones and usually has needles or scale-like leaves.
- Evergreen tree
An evergreen tree is a tree that keeps green leaves or needles all year and replaces them gradually.
- Excurrent form
Excurrent form is a tree shape with one strong central trunk and side branches, like a pine or spruce.
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