Grinding/Cutting root on healthy Linden tree - Ask Extension
I have lived in a St. Paul home for about 8 years. It had a mature Linden tree at that time. Over the last few years nearby patio pavers have been h...
Knowledgebase
Grinding/Cutting root on healthy Linden tree #868060
Asked May 12, 2024, 10:24 AM EDT
I have lived in a St. Paul home for about 8 years. It had a mature Linden tree at that time. Over the last few years nearby patio pavers have been heaving from what I suspect is a fully underground root from the Linden. Can the root of the Linden be ground down or cut without killing the tree? The tree trunk is ~16" in diameter, and the problem area is about 15 feet from the trunk. I haven't removed any pavers yet, so I don't know how large the root is or how far under the surface it is. The tree appears healthy and I don't want to shorten its lifespan. Thanks!
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
The pavers could be shifting due to any number of reasons. Surface roots are usually not a problem with lindens, unlike maple trees. If, for some reason, a root is approaching the surface, it is because of a blockage below or a need for oxygen. I sincerely hope you do not cut or grind that root if that is the problem. It will open the tree up to diseases. Find some way to work around it with, perhaps, a table or chair that will straddle it. I don't know what variety of linden you have so I am giving you links to both the little leaf and large leaf lindens. I have a Redmond. Love that tree. file:///C:/Users/owner/Downloads/th-3-123.pdf file:///C:/Users/owner/Downloads/tilcora.pdf
