Why the root flare must be exposed
The root flare — where the trunk widens into the buttress roots — is meant to sit at or above grade. When it is buried by deep planting, added soil, or piled mulch, the bark stays wet, cannot exchange gases, and begins to decay; girdling roots form in the loose soil and wrap the trunk. The tree declines slowly over years, and most owners (and many tree services) never look at the base.
How we excavate the collar
We use an air spade — high-velocity compressed air — to remove the soil around the trunk down to the true root flare without cutting a single root. The flare and the top of the major roots are exposed, inspected, and brought back to grade. Because no roots are severed, there is no transplant-style shock; the tree simply gets to breathe again.
Finding and cutting girdling roots
Once the collar is open, we identify roots circling or pressing against the trunk and remove them with clean cuts. A girdling root strangles the vascular system on one side of the tree — correcting it early can stop and even reverse a decline that looked terminal.
Mulch volcanoes — the common cause
The classic culprit in Everman landscapes is the mulch volcano — mulch piled in a cone against the trunk. It holds moisture against the bark, invites decay and rodents, and encourages girdling roots in the mulch layer. We remove it, excavate the collar, and rebuild a proper wide, shallow mulch ring that starts a few inches off the trunk.
What to expect after
After excavation the flare is left exposed (it should never be reburied), and we will prescribe any follow-up — deep-root fertilization, a watering correction, or monitoring. Recovery is gradual: improved color and growth typically show over the following one to two seasons as the trunk and roots recover.
Free root-collar assessment in Everman
Wondering if a struggling Everman tree has a buried flare? We will check the base and tell you. Call (817) 670-4404 or request an assessment online.