1. Strengthening our Community Tree Canopy Through Education
Module #7: Root Pruning
Laura Sanagorski, Environmental Horticulture Extension Faculty

2. Strengthening Our Community Tree Canopy
2012 Urban Forestry Series
This series is a part of a project titled “Strengthening Our Community Tree Canopy Through Education”.
This project is made possible by  a grant through the 2011 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Florida Forest Service.

3. Root Pruning

4. Root Pruning – the Need Correct defects at planting
Reduce size of rootball for transplant
Address conflict with hardscape

5. Root Pruning – Defects discovered at planting
Circling roots
Matted roots deflected downward
Excess soil on top of rootball
Circling / Girdling – roots that grow around the trunk of a tree rather than laterally away from it that constrict the other roots or the trunk, restricting growth.
Photo: UF Laura Sanagorski

6. Circling / Girdling root systems often cause failure
Photo: UF Laura Sanagorski

7. Circling / Girdling root systems often cause failure
Photo: UF Laura Sanagorski

8. Circling / Girdling root systems often cause failure
Photo: UF Laura Sanagorski

9. Circling / Girdling root systems often cause failure – can this be avoided?
Photo: UF Laura Sanagorski

10. Planting space, planting depth, and/or improper mulch can cause circling / girdling root systems
Photos: UF Laura Sanagorski

11. Root Pruning – Equipment
Sharp Shovel
Pruning Shears
Air Spade / Air Excavator
Trench cutter 

12. An arborist using a tree spade to root prune
air excavator ( )
An arborist using a tree spade to root prune
Luana Vargas, International Society of Arboriculture, Bugwood.org

13. Root pruning at planting - Slice & remove outer ½ - 1” of rootball – preferable to radial slicing
Photo: UF Laura Sanagorski

14. CIRCLING ROOT REGENERATION
Defective roots can often be cut as remedy

15. Root pruning – How Much? No more than 25% - 30%
Severance of major support roots may compromise integrity
As trees age, they can’t withstand as much
Photo: UF Laura Sanagorski

16. Root pruning - staking
A must if major roots or large percentage are cut
Photo: UF Laura Sanagorski

17. Strengthening our Community Tree Canopy Through Education
Module #7: Root Pruning
Laura Sanagorski, Environmental Horticulture Extension Faculty