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    Where Are My Trees Roots

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    Joey Francis Balgos
    The document discusses how to calculate the extent of a tree's root zone and the potential harm from cutting roots. It provides formulas to estimate a tree's total root zone and critical root zone based on the tree's diameter. Cutting or damaging more than 30% of the critical root zone area can cause dieback, death or destabilization of the tree.

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    Where Are My Trees Roots

    Uploaded by

    Joey Francis Balgos
    5 views1 page
    The document discusses how to calculate the extent of a tree's root zone and the potential harm from cutting roots. It provides formulas to estimate a tree's total root zone and critical root zone based on the tree's diameter. Cutting or damaging more than 30% of the critical root zone area can cause dieback, death or destabilization of the tree.

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    Where-are-my-trees-roots

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    The document discusses how to calculate the extent of a tree's root zone and the potential harm from cutting roots. It provides formulas to estimate a tree's total root zone and critical root zone based on the tree's diameter. Cutting or damaging more than 30% of the critical root zone area can cause dieback, death or destabilization of the tree.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    5 views1 page

    Where Are My Trees Roots

    Uploaded by

    Joey Francis Balgos
    The document discusses how to calculate the extent of a tree's root zone and the potential harm from cutting roots. It provides formulas to estimate a tree's total root zone and critical root zone based on the tree's diameter. Cutting or damaging more than 30% of the critical root zone area can cause dieback, death or destabilization of the tree.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    Where Are My Trees’ Roots?

    One of the most frequently asked questions of community arborists is, “Will it hurt my tree if I cut the
    roots?” Indeed, tree roots are mostly ignored until they cause a problem by “popping up” in the yard,
    cracking a driveway, or tilting a sidewalk. Many people think removing a few of the tree’s encroaching
    roots will cause little long term harm and that large trees can easily recover from minor root loss, but that
    is seldom the case.

    How much damage a tree’s root system can bear is a function of how much soil surface the roots occupy.
    The term “drip line,” which is often used to describe the limits of root length, is a poor indicator of roots’
    true extent. Different species also have different types of root systems. However, most trees fall in line
    with the formulas below, which can be used to calculate the average length of a tree’s roots. But first a
    couple of definitions:

    Total root zone area: Area within the soil profile where roots exist; typically the root zone of trees extends
    beyond the drip line.

    Critical root zone: Soil area around a tree containing the roots, which provide stability and a significant
    uptake of moisture. In clay soils most of these roots lie in the top 12-14” of the soil. Damaging roots in this
    area can cause significant tree dieback or death.

    Total tree root zone radius = diameter of tree measured at 4.5’ above the ground (dbh) x 1.5 feet.
    12” dbh tree = 12” X 1.5’ or 18’ root zone radius around the tree.

    Critical root zone radius = diameter of tree measured at 4.5’ above the ground (dbh) x 1.3 feet
    12” dbh tree = 12” X 1.3’ or 15.6’ critical root zone radius around the tree.

    When calculating your tree root zones,


    remember that foundations, driveways,
    sidewalks, and walls can limit the effective
    areas that roots can occupy. Utility line
    replacement also frequently results in roots
    being cut or disturbed. Cutting or damaging
    more than 30% of the critical root zone area
    can cause dieback or death and may
    destabilize the tree. If you are unsure about
    the damage you may cause, contact a
    certified arborist for advice.

    http://www.gatrees.org/community-forests/management/professional-assistance/
    An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider

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