A tree planted too deep, or one that started in a container where roots circled instead of spreading outward, can end up with a root wrapped tightly around its own trunk. Over years, that root doesn't stop growing, and it slowly cuts off the tree's own circulation from the inside.
Girdling roots are one of the more overlooked reasons a mature, seemingly healthy tree declines with no obvious cause. There is no storm damage, no visible pest, no dead branches at first, just a tree that thins out and struggles a little more each year until the problem is severe.
Our arborists check root flare and trunk taper as part of a standard assessment, because a girdling root caught early can sometimes be cut away before it does permanent damage. Left alone, it eventually becomes a structural failure point.
Do you know if your trees were planted at the right depth when they went in the ground?
#AtlantaArborist
Photo of an arborist examining a root flare at the base of a tree, or a close-up of a root wrapped around a trunk if a documented example is available. Authentic job photos strongly preferred over stock images.
Canva text suggestion: "Is a Hidden Root Strangling Your Tree?" or "Root Flare Checks, Free Assessment"