Chinese Elm - Should I remove large surface root?

[Grego83]

I have a large surface root that I think looks unnatural, though it does balance the tree.

Would removing the circled root be safe? Good idea or bad idea?

Would it even make this tree look better, or leave it looking unbalanced?

Thanks for any suggestions,

Greg

 

[Clicio]

Hummmm...
Doesn't help the design at all, but on the other hand, without it the tree would surely look unbalanced.
Perhaps while this skinny trunk thickens (it will take time...), you could get rid of the ugly root and prepare the tree for some root grafting?

 

[Vin]

I wouldn't remove it. Repot it next spring and straighten all those tangled roots up. You'll need that root to start a good spread.

 

[Clicio]

I wouldn't remove it. Repot it next spring and straighten all those tangled roots up. You'll need that root to start a good spread.

@Vin , Aren't them so hard by now that untangling and straightening the roots will be a really difficult job? I agree, that root is needed for the nebari, but it doesn't look easy (or a one-pass project) to fix those roots.
How would you tackle this?

 

[TomB]

To be honest (sorry) all those roots are a mess. If the tree was mine I'd be looking at layering it, either just above the current roots or at the first bend in the trunk where there seems to be a little bulge.

 

[Grego83]

Thanks for the input all. I'll leave it and repot next spring and see if I can untangle this mess. If not I'll layer it, which I've never done before. Guess it's a good time to learn.

 

[just.wing.it]

I have a large surface root that I think looks unnatural, though it does balance the tree.

Would removing the circled root be safe? Good idea or bad idea?

Would it even make this tree look better, or leave it looking unbalanced?

Thanks for any suggestions,

Greg

View attachment 193819View attachment 193820View attachment 193821

If it was mine, I'd remove all those big roots, maybe successively at repotting time...
Might take a few.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I’d leave it for now too. When you repot, you can start to reduce those big roots one at a time over several repottings. Right now, if you don’t know what’s attached to that root, you could really weaken the tree. Plus, they seem to radiate somewhat from the same height on the trunk, so don’t give up on them just yet.

Additionally, you should raise the soil level some so those roots are mostly covered, which msy improve the appearance of age and stability.

 

[coh]

To be honest (sorry) all those roots are a mess. If the tree was mine I'd be looking at layering it, either just above the current roots or at the first bend in the trunk where there seems to be a little bulge.

This is the approach I'd probably take. I'd leave it for now (raise the soil as BVF suggests), then repot next year and take a look at the current roots and what might be done with them (see if they can be moved, or if some can be removed). I do think layering might be the best long term solution, and elms do layer easily.

 

[Vin]

@Vin , Aren't them so hard by now that untangling and straightening the roots will be a really difficult job? I agree, that root is needed for the nebari, but it doesn't look easy (or a one-pass project) to fix those roots.
How would you tackle this?

Chinese elm roots are pretty pliable at the stage yours appears to be in. Some, you may not be able to do anything with and will trim them back. The two larger ones to the right will most likely be the ones you'll just trim back. You really should cover up the roots all the way to the trunk with soil.

 

[Grego83]

Wow, thanks for the help all, I really appreciate it.

I will raise the soil level for now and check back next year. When it's time to trim the roots, I'll be back for more advice!

Thanks again!

 

[Clicio]

are pretty pliable at the stage yours appears to be in.

No, I am not the original poster, but thanks for answering, I appreciate it.

 

[M. Frary]

I'd ground layer it.

 

[Ryceman3]

I'd ground layer it.

Ditto. Obviously you’ll need to wait for the right timing to do so but that is gonna get you the best result in the long run.