How Big Of A Problem Is Exposed Tree Roots?

Arborists in Vancouver share information about exposed tree roots in your landscape.

Trees add so much value to a landscape. But, they can make lawn care more difficult. Constantly picking up fallen limbs and raking up leaves before you mow adds extra steps to your landscaping process. It can be especially distressing when you are mowing and you take a chunk out of an exposed tree root.

Exposed tree roots can seem to happen out of the blue and when you notice them it’s usually because they have been damaged. Knowing how to prevent exposed tree roots and what to do about them can help you keep your trees and your lawn happy.

What Causes Tree Roots To Become Exposed?

Contrary to what you may think, most species of trees don’t make a habit of sending their roots up to the surface. Roots on the surface cannot access the nutrients that are needed to feed the tree. The tender roots are better suited to being underground where the layers of soil can protect them.

So what causes them to become exposed? Most often topsoil erosion is what exposes tree roots. The roots are safely underground until natural surface runoff “brings them to the surface.”

Are Exposed Roots Harmful To Trees?

For the tree, having roots exposed is not necessarily a bad thing. Nutrient availability for the roots will be less and some of the anchoring power or the roots may be compromised, but this is usually not enough to be serious. The main danger of exposed roots is the damage they are exposed to when sitting on or near the surface of the soil.

Roots are delicate structures with an outer skin. The outer skin protects them, much like your skin protects you. When the skin is damaged, or worse yet, when chucks are taken out of the root, the root becomes vulnerable to infection from mould, fungus and wood-eating insects. The damage and the ensuing infections cut off nutrients to the tree that were being transported through the root. 

How Should You Care For A Tree With Exposed Roots?

The best way to care for a tree with exposed roots is to work to prevent them. Any steps that can be taken to minimize surface run-off will help. Planting shade-tolerant grasses or perennials will ensure there is something there to anchor the topsoil. Often, homeowners will build slightly raised beds around larger trees for more landscaping and soil conservation. Depending on how your property drains water, it may be necessary to address this on a larger scale with gutters or french drains.

But, what if you already have a tree with exposed roots? The best thing you can do is protect the roots. Stop mowing over them is the first step. The next step is to provide some cover. The best cover is mulch. Mulching over exposed tree roots will keep them safe and work to provide moisture and nutrients to the tree as it grows.

About VI Tree Service    

VI Tree Service has been taking care of trees in the Vancouver area since 1990. Their arborists are experts at keeping trees healthy and landscapes safe. From proper tree care to safe tree removals, their teams have the tree care solutions to help you.

Learning How to Water Your Newly Planted Tree

When you need expert tree advice, look no further than the professionals at VI Tree Service. They are your Vancouver tree servicing company that is here to keep your trees healthy and safe.

A lot of the time when people think of trees, they don’t think of a newly planted tree. They think of the tall, full-grown tree that doesn’t need much care at all other than routine maintenance. However, there was someone at one point in time that took care of that tree so it could grow into the strong and healthy tall tree you think of in your mind. Caring for and watering a newly planted tree is trickier than you might think as well. There are certain guidelines one must follow to ensure the tree grows strong and healthy. Luckily, the experts at VI Tree Service have the knowledge and expertise to keep your newly planted trees alive and well, while also teaching you something in the process.

Continue reading to learn more about how to care for newly planted trees.

Newly Planted Tree Care

In a majority of cases, it takes three growing seasons for a tree to become established. Until that day occurs, how you care for your newly planted tree is vital to its survival. If you don’t take care of the tree it could grow with a lean or a crooked trunk, or it could die as a result.

When a newly planted tree is left to fend for itself, it becomes weakened, which makes it susceptible to pests and diseases. That is why tree care for newly planted trees is so important. Newly planted tree care consists of maintaining a proper balance between things like:

  • Amount of daily sunshine
  • Amount of water
  • Where you water
  • When you water
  • The soil
  • Mulching
  • Fertilizer
  • Pruning

Granted, a new tree doesn’t need a lot of pruning or fertilizer at first. In the first year, the most important part of caring for your tree is understanding how to properly water it; more on this below.

Dealing With the Shock of a Transplant

The sad truth is that many newly planted trees fall prey to transplant shock. It is incredibly easy for a new tree to suffer from this. However, there are ways to prevent it like:

  • Only planting trees native to your region
  • Planting the tree at the proper depth
  • Watering it enough

That said, if your tree is suffering from transplant shock, there are things you can do to try and help the tree recover. Below are some tips to help you deal with transplant shock:

  • Soak the roots with water
    • You’ll want to hydrate the roots with at least one inch of water
    • Maintain moist soil. Don’t let it dry out.
  • Mulching
    • Sometimes mulching around the base of the tree can help protect against transplant shock
    • You want a two to four-inch layer of mulch around the tree’s base that extends out to the outermost leaves
    • Be careful not to pile it too high or too close to the trunk, as this will only worsen the problem.

How, When, and Where to Water

As mentioned above, the single most important aspect of caring for your newly planted tree is to develop a watering practice that is ideal for the tree. It is extremely easy to underwater a tree. Not only that, but you can lose the tree due to root rot if you don’t water in the correct place.

Below are some tips to help you understand how, when, and where to water your newly planted tree:

  • How?
    • When you water your tree, be sure to soak the roots really well
    • You always want breathable soil so the roots have some space to dry out a little
    • Never let them dry out completely
  • When?
    • When you start to notice the soil drying out, your tree wants to be watered again
  • Where?
    • Throughout the first few months, the roots are still in a root ball so you want to water right on top of the trunk to ensure the roots get soaked. After this point, you’ll want to extend your watering away from the trunk and instead water around the base and extend out toward the canopy of the tree.
    • The roots extend wide from the trunk so it’s crucial you continue to accommodate for that growth with your watering

Again, once the tree is established, it no longer needs this vigorous of a watering schedule. In fact, in most regions, the natural weather can take care of watering the tree from that point onward. Only in the hottest and driest parts of the world do trees sometimes need to be watered in their adult life.

The VI Tree Service Difference

VI Tree Service is the tree care company for you because they have over 50 years of experience. You can trust that they have seen it all and can handle any situation you throw at them. Keep the trees and shrubs in your yard safe, strong, and healthy throughout the course of their lives. Call today to schedule your next appointment!

Stump Removal And Stump Grinding: What’s The Difference?

Tree Service Professionals in Vancouver, BC, Canada, Share Stump Removal and Stump Grinding Information

Removing a tree stump looks easy at a glance, but in reality, it’s anything but. Tree stumps can be dangerous and can invite termites and other pests into your yard. You’ve got two options for effectively eliminating tree stumps: removal and grinding. Both options require special equipment and know-how. But, they’re both viable for certain situations. Read on to discover which option is right for you and what the costs are for each. 

How Is Stump Grinding Done?

Stump grinding is the most common and efficient way to get rid of an unsightly stump. It’s generally cheaper than stump removal because it’s less labor-intensive. A tree service will bring in a stump grinding machine and get to work, essentially turning your stump into sawdust. Depending on what you want and the surrounding topography, the tree service will grind the stump down past the soil level. Usually, the machine can grind it down from an inch to a foot below the ground.

Stump grinding leaves some of the stump and the root system intact, which means you don’t have a giant hole in your yard to fill in. You’ll probably want to fill in the small hole directly over the stump, but that’s easily done. You’ll also have the option to use the sawdust from the stump as mulch, although it’s likely to attract termites. You won’t be able to plant a new tree where the old one was, but the decaying stump may sprout.

The Stump Removal Process

Stump removal requires heavy-duty machinery to pull the entire root system out of the ground. This often leaves a giant hole that must be filled in afterward. Sometimes the heavy machinery arborists bring in for the job can tear up the surrounding yard. However, the nice thing about stump removal is the ability to plant a new tree where the old one was. 

Stump removal is the best option when you’re excavating land for new construction, or when you prefer planting a new tree precisely where the old one was. In almost all other situations, stump grinding is the preferred option. 

Expert Tree Removal Costs

Having a tree stump ground down is considerably less expensive than having it removed. You’ll be left with lots of sawdust, but you can use it as mulch or have it removed. Some tree service companies offer to remove the sawdust for free or a small fee. You won’t be able to plant a new tree where the old one was, but you can plan one nearby. The tree roots will decay over the years, as all trees do eventually. You may see some new spouts over the roots, but you can easily remove them if you want. 

As noted above, tree stump removal is usually more expensive than grinding. But, the upfront cost of removing a stump doesn’t include the cost of filling in the hole again or repairing your lawn from damage done by machinery. On occasion, chemicals are used to soften the soil around the roots. If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly option, grinding is the way to go. No chemicals are used in the grinding process.

Removing a stump is a difficult task best left to the professionals. It can be dangerous and time-consuming unless you know what you’re doing. For fast and safe results, contact your local tree removal service.

About VI Tree Service

VI Tree Service has been serving Vancouver, BC, with pride since 1990. They’re environmentally friendly, professional, licensed, and insured. Their expert techs have over 50 years of combined experience to make any job a success. They also provide free estimations and guaranteed quality workmanship.  

Is it too late to trim my fruit trees? It’s the end of May and I’m way behind with my yard work.

Great question! Being such a topsy turvy year with an extended winter and our global corona virus situation, this has left MANY way behind and wondering about the same thing.

The reality is that fruit tree pruning can be done in winter, spring and early summer….so there’s still time! One tree that needs consideration is the cherry tree. Many have already started to bear fruit, so we suggest waiting until the fruit has been borne and trim then.

One of the great things about living on the Island is that we have a remarkable climate that provides us with awesome seasons…lots of sun and lots of rain. Aren’t we lucky?

Here’s our Canadian Plant Hardiness Zone Map:

Zones

  • Zone 0: below -45°C
  • Zone 1: -45°C
  • Zone 2: -45°C to -40°C
  • Zone 3: -40°C to -35°C
  • Zone 4: -35°C to -29°C
  • Zone 5: -29°C to -23°C
  • Zone 6: -23°C to -18°C
  • Zone 7: -18°C to -12°C
  • Zone 8: -12°C to -7°C
  • Zone 9: -7°C to -1°C

BC Regions

  • Lower Mainland: Zone 7/8
  • Vancouver Island: Zone 8
  • Sunshine Coast : Zone 7/8
  • Okanagan Valley : Zone 4/5
  • Prince George: Zone 3
  • Prince Rupert: Zone 6/7
  • Peace River area: Zone 2

Our fruit trees do need care and attention as they grow faster than other regions. So, consider having us out to do a FREE estimate on trimming your trees, especially those tall ones!

Call us to book your FREE estimate: 250-755-6799