Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-08
G|RD[|NC ROOTS
THROTTLE TREES
Strange Languishing May
Be Traced to Faulty
Planting.

Sometimes q property owner who
have become posted on at least the
fundamentals Of their care will be
mystified by tree which is anguish
ing from no apparent cause, according
to Paul Davey, tree expert. The
owners know 1t Is free from any
serious infestation, that it has been
amply fed and sufficiently watered,
yet he cannot find evidence of disease.
"Such a case furnishes strong sus-
picion Of girdling root" Davey con-
tinues. Why it should be that one
root will start to circle around the
trunk instead of reaching out at right
angles is something no tree expert
has ever been able to say definitely
Possibly a stony spot has DETECTED q
tiny rootlet and started it in the wrong
direction. Some foreign invasion may
have made a barren spot Of soil
through which the root would natu-
rally pass and it has turned aside for
better feeding ground.
Planter Often at Fault.
"If the tree is one which has been
planted rather than growing naturally
where it stands perhaps the man who
did the planting neglected to straighten
the roots out radially and left one
wrapped around the trunk, or he may
have planted the tree little too deep
and felt an unnatural condition con-
ducive to unnatural growth.
IA girdling root which presses
against the tree trunk or crosses and
presses against other roots will in
crease that pressure as growth pro-
ceeds and eventually will throttle the
trunk or roots it touches. There are
no very positive SYMPTOMS Of root
girdling, but there are indications. If
. tree trunk seems fat on one side, and
particularly II the bark ON the fiat
tened area looks dry and lifeless it is
an indication that food and water is
being shut of on that side and Cir
ding root may be doing the damage
The circulating system OF a tree is
composed OF small veins close to the
outer surface which carry the soluble
food to the leaves. They, in COM
bination with the air, make it into the
sap which larger veins carry through
branches and trunk to make woody
growth. If the small veins on one
side are shut off, that side dries out
and cannot a.ssimilate the sap for
growth.
IF you have reason to suspect q
girdling root. remove the soil around
the trunk for about feet down to
where the roots are exposed, being
careful not to bruise the roots. Then
II no girdling root is in sight, follow
each root out 18 inches or more to be
sure 1t has continued to grow straight
until it divides into finer roots.
Sever Root at Trunk.
when you find root which Is
growing around the trunk instead OF
radiating as 1t should, follow that to
see what it touches. II it is in
contact with several other roots there
will usually be no doubt that the
girdling root should be severed at the
trunk to give the others a chance t<
live. Particularly if the root is cutting
into the tree trunk it should be killed
before 1t kills the tree.
1T is sometimes true that g. grid
ling root pressing into another shows
about the same strength and evident
importance as the root with which il
interferes. II it Is not clear from the
appearance Of the roots what 1t is best
to do 1t may be better to call In an
expert to advise you. The result you
want to accomplish is to preserve and
keep at work the largest and strongest
roots. which will carry the greatest
smount OF food and water to the tree. >