A tree's root flare, the point where the trunk widens out into the roots, is supposed to sit right at ground level.
When a tree gets planted too deep or mulch keeps getting piled up against the trunk over the years, that flare ends up buried, and the tree can develop roots that girdle itself or a trunk that stays too wet.
It's a slow problem. A buried root flare doesn't kill a tree overnight, but it shortens its life and makes it more vulnerable to disease and instability.
We see this a lot on trees planted by builders or landscapers years ago who didn't account for how much the tree would settle.
Do you know if the trees on your property were planted with the root flare visible, or is it buried under soil or mulch?
#MetroEastIL
Photo of an arborist excavating soil away from a trunk base to expose a buried root flare.
Canva text suggestion: "Is Your Tree's Root Flare Buried?" or "A Slow Problem Worth Checking Now"