Take a look at the base of the trees in your yard. A healthy tree widens out where the trunk meets the soil, forming a visible root flare. If a trunk goes straight into the ground like a telephone pole, that flare is likely buried.
Buried root flares are common in Metro Atlanta, usually from trees planted too deep, soil added during landscaping, or mulch piled up against the trunk year after year. Bark that stays wet below the soil line is prone to decay, and roots that should grow outward can start circling and wrapping the trunk instead. These girdling roots slowly squeeze off the tree's own water and nutrient supply.
The warning signs often show up years later as thinning canopies, early fall color, or dieback on one side of the tree. Our ISA Certified Arborists can uncover the flare and check for girdling roots, often using air excavation so the root system isn't damaged in the process.
Have you ever looked closely at where the trunks of your trees meet the ground?
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A real side-by-side from a Boutte Tree job: a trunk with no visible flare before root collar excavation, and the exposed flare after. Close-up photos of a girdling root also work well. Authentic diagnostic photos far outperform stock images.
Canva text suggestion: "No Flare at the Base? Look Closer" or "Buried Root Flares Slowly Choke Trees"