Knowledgebase
Addressing tree root damage #866421
Asked April 30, 2024, 9:40 AM EDT
How should I address roots that are damaged by a shovel? Despite my best efforts, when digging in my backyard I sometimes injure the side of pinky sized roots, but don’t sever them. (The affected tree is a lacebark elm, approximately 10 years old.) Do trees heal root damage, like they produce wound wood when the bark is damaged? Or should I expose the root where the damage is and make a clean cut to sever it completely? Thank you.
Henrico County Virginia
Expert Response
Hello,
Low-intensity gardening within the root zone of a tree is typically not detrimental to its health. Wounding or severing small roots (<2" diameter) by shoveling here and there around the root zone is unlikely to harm the tree. There would be no need to expose the injured root and clean the wound. It is important not to wound large-diameter roots in close proximity to the trunk base. Doing so may compromise function of the outlying root system tied to the large root. Or the wounds may initiate decay into the structural roots or trunk. A good guideline is to avoid any digging in a zone around the trunk equal to 5 times the trunk diameter. So if the trunk is 12" diameter at chest level, then avoid digging in a a zone within 5 feet of the trunk.
