Looking for girdling root advice

[AlpenTreeExperts]

I have a client who called me about a large lodgepole pine that is native and was not planted. The tree has a large girdling root at the base. I have not seen this before on a tree that was naturally germinated. The tree is large enough to pose a risk to a house as well as a propane tank if it were to come uprooted. The canopy looks green and healthy. There is no sign of branch dieback or needle drop. The homeowner was alerted to it because the bark is coming apart on the visible side of the root due to what guess is excessive tension pulling perpendicular to the grain of the root. I’ve attached a couple pictures of the base of the tree with the root. Anybody have any experience or opinion on this? The tree is 33” at the base (not DBH) and 81’ tall. It could definitely do some damage if it comes down, but I don’t want to give a tree a death sentence if it isn’t necessary.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

My guess is that no one has ever seen SGRs that benefitted the tree.

If you can't get all of the SGR out at least sever it into pieces. Within time those chunks will die and fall off.

In addition to the usual saws and chisels I started using drills more and more to sever roots. Either the usual twist bits or chisel/spade bits in a variety of dimensions.

Take pics, with the sun at your back, in mid-morning or afternoon to record what the tree looks like now.

Can you measure annual twig elongation growth of a variety of branches? Twig elongation is a good measure of how the tree reacts to SGR removal.

 

[ghostice]

If you're into old woodworking tools, try online or even garage sales for some round/ curved chisels. My Dad gave me this one years ago and I use it for girdling root discontinuation/ excision surgeries. If not that I've also just used flat chisels too, starting with wider and getting narrower as you go deeper, trying not to strike the tree roots itself. Word of caution maybe - I've had some girdling roots go off on me like a whip and sound like a gunshot - that loud. Wear gloves and eye protection cuz some of them can be under enormous pressure and they let go sudden like. Always an adventure. Cheers