It seemed like the light drizzle was going to stick around so I decided it would be a good day to head to the next town north and do root collar excavations. It wasn't a drizzle.....but oh well. They are done and I am dry now. Was just going to post pics of the first one, but the second earned a spot too.
Sugar maple. What are the chances this dude has a stem girdling root down there?
Here it is opened up (taken from opposite side):
It wasn't gonna come out easily. I'm curious about opinions. What would you do with that mess on the left? I left it in place not wanting to take off too much at once. The one on the right is where the trunk is deformed so I started with that one. Also took off the piece on the 'front' (in this picture). I cut both ends, but that one on the right still wasn't budging. I ended up splitting it. A small portion is still in there, but it is not attached to anything so it is done causing problems and will come out over time.
Here it is done (stood a little further to the right when taking the pic).

Sugar maple. What are the chances this dude has a stem girdling root down there?

Here it is opened up (taken from opposite side):

It wasn't gonna come out easily. I'm curious about opinions. What would you do with that mess on the left? I left it in place not wanting to take off too much at once. The one on the right is where the trunk is deformed so I started with that one. Also took off the piece on the 'front' (in this picture). I cut both ends, but that one on the right still wasn't budging. I ended up splitting it. A small portion is still in there, but it is not attached to anything so it is done causing problems and will come out over time.
Here it is done (stood a little further to the right when taking the pic).
