Dealing with invasive roots will have you scrambling for a quick solution. After all, no one enjoys having cracked pipes or lifting pavers.
Does tree trimming prevent root growth? While there are various tree services in Plant City, FL, you can turn to for help with root growth, tree trimming isn’t one of them. Read on as we debunk the myths surrounding the relationship between tree trimming and root development.
Can Trimming Trees Stop Roots From Growing?
There are a lot of benefits to regularly pruning your trees, from promoting healthy growth to maintaining their beauty. Unfortunately, preventing root growth is not one of trimming’s many benefits.
Arborists have spent a lot of time looking into how trimming trees affects root growth and have found little evidence to support the claim. Yes, your tree’s system isn’t isolated; what happens above will influence what happens below. However, that influence isn’t always felt.
This is the case when it comes to trimming or even pruning your tree. Both processes focus on the tree’s leaves and branches, so the impact of tree pruning on root growth is almost nonexistent.
What Actually Influences Root Growth?
If you’re looking to prevent root growth, your best bet will be to understand what influences it in the first place. Asking yourself, “Does tree trimming prevent root growth?” won’t give you the answers you need. Below are a few key factors to consider.
Tree Species
The type of tree you have will determine how aggressive the root growth will be. This is because some tree species, like camphors and fig trees, tend to have more aggressive root systems.
Tree Age
Your tree’s age also plays a role in determining root growth. Since young trees are still establishing themselves, their root growth is often livelier.
Moisture
Keep in mind that your tree’s roots go where the moisture is. This means that they will often grow toward stormwater lines, leaking pipes, and nearby garden beds and irrigated lawns.
Effective Ways of Managing Root Growth
Just because trimming your tree won’t prevent root growth doesn’t mean you have to live with invasive roots. There are several helpful solutions you can consider implementing, from installing physical barriers to trimming the roots themselves.
Think of barriers as shields that keep invasive roots away from certain sections of your property. You could opt for physical barriers or chemical ones.
You could also schedule root pruning and have a certified professional cut a section of your tree’s root system. They’ll evaluate the root structure and determine what they can cut without impacting the tree’s health and longevity.
Consult Plant City’s Trusted Arborist Team
Does tree trimming prevent root growth? The short answer is no, stopping root growth is not one of the advantages of tree trimming. However, there are still several solutions you can opt for to effectively manage your tree’s root growth.
Reach out to Central Florida Tree Care today at (863) 670-7375 to find out how we can help.
