What are Girdling Roots and How Do They Affect Your Trees
                     What are 
Girdling Roots 
and How Do 
They Affect 
Your Trees? 
Photo Credit: cultivar413 on Flickr
A tree’s root system carries water and nutrients 
to the trunk, branches and leaves. 
When a tree struggles, people tend to look only 
at the parts visible above the ground. 
This makes it easy to miss problems that begin 
in the root system. 
Girdling roots are ones that grow in a circular 
pattern around the trunk. 
Photo Credit: Scot Nelson on Flickr
Some develop just above the soil but they also 
can be hidden beneath the surface. 
If you picture a belt being pulled tight around 
your waist, then you have a good idea of what 
girdling roots do to a tree. 
Photo Credit: Scot Nelson on Flickr
Preventing and treating girdling roots stops 
trees from being choked out.
Photo Credit: Scot Nelson on Flickr
Are Certain 
Trees More 
Likely to 
Develop 
Girdling Roots?
One of the biggest causes of girdling roots 
is poor nursery and transplanting practices. 
In nurseries, plants can be kept in containers 
too long. 
With nowhere to go, roots will begin to circle 
around the sides of the container. 
A similar situation can happen if a tree is 
transplanted into a hole that is too small. 
Twisting the roots to make them fit into the hole can 
encourage them to maintain this growth pattern. 
If a planting hole has compacted soil, then the roots 
may be unable to stretch outwards. Curling around 
in a circle may be the only way that they can grow.
How Does This 
Root Problem 
Affect the Tree?
Trees struggle to thrive once girdling roots 
choke off their supply of nutrients and water. 
A tree with these types of roots may have 
dying branches and leaves despite receiving 
good care. 
Eventually, a tree can die off within approximately 
five to 15 years from this condition. 
Prompt treatment can restore tree health 
and bring it back to life.
How Do You 
Know If a Tree 
Has Girdling 
Roots?
A tree with girdling roots will show signs 
of general stress. 
You might notice that the tree’s leaves 
change colors abnormally early in the fall. 
An early leaf drop is another sign that the tree 
isn’t getting enough water and nutrients. 
Thinning of the tree’s upper crown could further 
indicate that the root system is struggling to keep 
it nourished.
A tree’s trunk can show one of the most telltale signs of a girdling root. 
Trees with normal growth have a flare at the base of the trunk. 
Photo Credit: cultivar413 on Flickr
One with a girdling root will appear straighter or narrower 
on one side or all around. 
Occasionally, you’ll see roots circling around the trunk 
above the ground. This is more common in areas with 
a large amount of soil erosion.
What Are the 
Best Treatment 
Options to Save 
the Tree?
Treating girdling roots begins with the planting process. 
Make sure to dig a wide enough hole with roughened 
sides that encourage the roots to spread out. 
If there are roots circled around the root ball, then 
loosening these up stops them from continuing to 
maintain that growth pattern. 
Once girdling roots are established, great care must be 
taken to remove them.
These roots are often still supplying the tree with 
nutrient-filled water. 
Small roots may be able to be removed right away. 
Larger ones typically must be removed in stages. 
Working with an arborist prevents you from 
accidentally causing more damage to the tree 
by removing vital roots too soon.
Identifying girdling roots early gives your tree the best 
chance of a successful recovery. 
As you inspect a tree, keep in mind that crown problems 
can be caused by other issues such as inefficient irrigation. 
Whether you can see a girdling root or are curious to find 
out why your tree is struggling, a professional inspection 
can help you get to the root of the problem.
Custom Weed & Pest Control has been in business 
since 1989, serving the greater Phoenix metro area 
for both residential and commercial.
We have teamed up with Tree Theory, 
and offer plant and tree care, 
with customized service to meet 
your specific needs.
• ISA Certified Arborist (WE-3474A)
• Consultation and Diagnosis
• Fertilization and Deep Root Feeding
• 40+ years tree/plant care experience
• 25+ years weed and ornamental pest control