Take a look at the base of the trees in your yard. A healthy tree widens out where the trunk meets the ground, flaring into its main roots like the base of a wine glass. If your tree goes straight into the soil like a telephone pole instead, something may be hiding below the surface.
Often it's a tree that was planted too deep, or one that has had soil or mulch piled against it for years. When that happens, roots can start circling the trunk instead of reaching outward, and over time those girdling roots tighten like a belt, slowing the flow of water and nutrients. The symptoms show up slowly: a thinning canopy on one side, smaller leaves, early fall color, or a trunk that looks flattened at the base.
The good news is that it's often correctable when caught early. A certified arborist can carefully excavate around the trunk with air or hand tools, expose the root flare, and remove problem roots without harming the tree. Across Klein, Spring, and The Woodlands, where many neighborhood trees went in as the subdivisions were built, it's worth a quick look.
When you look at the base of your favorite tree, can you see where the roots spread out, or does the trunk disappear straight into the ground?
#HoustonTrees #TreeHealth
Real photo comparing a tree base with a clearly visible root flare to one that goes straight into the ground, or a root collar excavation in progress on a Champions job showing exposed circling roots. Authentic photos from real Champions jobs strongly preferred over stock images.
Canva text suggestion: "Can You See Your Tree's Root Flare?" or "Hidden Roots Can Choke a Healthy Tree"