Quick Facts
- Cracks in concrete or asphalt
- Root-caused foundation movement
- Heaving sidewalks or patios
- Exposed roots creating hazards
What Is Surface Root Damage?
Surface root damage refers to harm done to a tree's roots when they grow at or just above the soil surface and become exposed to mowers, foot traffic, vehicles, or erosion. This is not a disease. Roots come to the surface because most of a tree's absorbing and structural roots naturally grow in the top 4 to 15 inches of soil where oxygen is available, and compacted or poorly drained soils push them even shallower.
How to Recognize It
- Woody roots visible at or above the soil line, often radiating out from the trunk.
- Bare or thinning turf in rings around the base of the tree where roots dominate the soil.
- Scrapes, gouges, or torn bark on exposed roots from mower decks, string trimmers, or vehicles.
- Cracked, lifted, or heaved sidewalks, driveways, and patio slabs near the tree.
- Tripping hazards in lawn areas where roots arch above grade.
- Soil eroding away from the root flare on slopes or in areas with heavy water flow.
Surface roots themselves are visible year round, but the wounding tends to peak during the growing season, when mowing, trimming, and foot traffic are most frequent. Heavy summer storms and winter rains in metro Atlanta can also accelerate soil erosion and expose more root surface area over time.
Why It Matters for Atlanta Trees
On its own, having surface roots is usually an aesthetic and maintenance issue rather than a sign of poor tree health. However, repeated wounding from mowers and trimmers, or improper attempts to remove roots, can open the tree to decay fungi, weaken structural support, and in severe cases contribute to tree instability. Because large mature trees can fail and fall on people or property, it matters to recognize when root damage has crossed from cosmetic into a stability concern.
Several species common in Atlanta yards are especially prone to surface rooting, including willow oak, water oak, pin oak, red maple, silver maple, southern magnolia, tulip poplar (yellow poplar), American beech, sycamore, river birch, and sweetgum. On the heavy red clay soils typical of our region, these trees often push roots even closer to the surface in search of oxygen.
Why this needs an ISA-certified arborist
Cutting, grinding, or burying surface roots can look like a quick fix, but it often removes feeder roots, opens wounds to decay, and can destabilize a mature tree. An ISA certified arborist can tell the difference between cosmetic surface rooting and a stability or decay problem, evaluate hardscape conflicts safely, and recommend cultural fixes (such as proper mulching, soil decompaction, or selective root pruning within safe limits) that protect both the tree and the people around it.
Suspect Surface Root Damage on your tree? Schedule a free on-site visit from EastLake's ISA-certified arborists at request a free estimate or call 404-850-1174.
General Prevention
- Mulch out from the trunk toward the dripline with 2 to 3 inches of shredded wood or bark, keeping mulch pulled back a few inches from the trunk itself. This reduces mowing over roots and conserves moisture.
- Avoid driving, parking, or storing heavy equipment under the canopy, since soil compaction is one of the main reasons roots grow at the surface in the first place.
- Replace turf under struggling trees with a mulched bed or shade tolerant groundcover rather than fighting the roots with the mower year after year.
- When planting new trees, choose species suited to the site's soil and drainage, give them adequate space away from sidewalks and foundations, and plant at the correct depth with the root flare visible.
What NOT to Do
- Do not self-diagnose. Many tree problems look alike, and treating the wrong one wastes time and can harm the tree.
- Do not apply fungicides, insecticides, or other chemicals without an arborist's specific recommendation. Wrong product or wrong timing makes things worse.
- Do not cut, grind, or pile fresh soil over exposed roots in an effort to tidy the lawn. Severing structural roots can destabilize the tree, and burying the root flare under added soil suffocates roots and invites decay at the base.
Related Services
For most diagnosis and treatment questions, the right starting point is one of our services:
- ISA-Certified Arborist Services for diagnosis, consultation, and second opinions.
- Plant Health Care (PHC) for ongoing tree health management.
- TRAQ Tree Risk Assessment when the tree may be a safety hazard.
Sources
This page summarizes general information from: UGA Extension (Forsyth County, Georgia), University of Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources Extension, and University of Florida IFAS Extension.