[HRLand]

What, if anything can be done about surface roots?

[HardDaysKnight]

Please be more specific. What are you tring to do?

[HRLand]

Sorry, too much on my mind. What I'm talking about is roots around large trees in some of the lawns we maintain. There are some that the guys can't even mow around which leads to a lot of trimming work.

[HardDaysKnight]

Originally posted by HRLand
Sorry, too much on my mind. What I'm talking about is roots around large trees in some of the lawns we maintain. There are some that the guys can't even mow around which leads to a lot of trimming work.

Sell the customer a planting bed around them.
Simply add a little soil. mulch and some annuals.
It will be inexpensive and look much better than
the surface roots, and easier for you to in the long run.
You solve a problem, add beauty, make extra money and
work easier! A win, win result! Good Luck, Johnny

[trees]

Simply add a little soil

Make sure it's a really loose, high organic matter soil, and just enough to cover and plant in. Piling 12" with a stone retaining wall can smother the roots, leading to the decline of the tree. Need to make sure those roots get oxygen...

Otherwise not a bad fix. Only other thing to do is live with it...

[HRLand]

I think they will have to live with it. If we put beds in by these trees there would be no lawn left.

[HardDaysKnight]

Originally posted by HRLand
I think they will have to live with it. If we put beds in by these trees there would be no lawn left.

There is no such thing as a quality lawn interlaced with surface roots. So there's no lawn left. The annuals look better.
Thanks trees for adding that post btw. I meant, plant flats of annuals between the surface roots. Then add a very light dressing of mulch and soil added if needed between the roots only.
I hope that makes sense. Sometimes having a lawn in an
area that will not constitute a healthy lawn(shade, exc. moisture, etc) means coming up with cosmetic alternatives. Especially one
that will make you extra bucks and lighten your maintainence
program.

[Pelican]

Can anyone explain what causes roots to expose themselves like that? I don't have it at all at my home, but a few of my clients do. Can it be corrected?

[NCSULandscaper]

Originally posted by HRLand

There are some that the guys can't even mow around which leads to a lot of trimming work.

Simply charge accordingly for the extra trimming.

[Mark Oomkes]

Some trees are just high rooted. Silver maple, locust are a couple that come to mind. Old sugar maples have it sometimes as well.

I'm not sure that this would work, but what about root pruning?

Otherwise I would at least try to put a bed around some of the tree. Sell it as trying to keep the tree alive because you are damaging the roots with the mower\trimmer. If you raise the soil level in a few years the same thing will happen again, so a mulch bed or ring is best.

Or live with it.