If you have got tree roots above ground pushing up through your lawn, you are not alone. It is one of the most common yard complaints we hear from Sandy Springs to Woodstock to Decatur. Big, healthy trees do this. It usually does not mean your tree is sick or dying, but it can turn into a real headache for mowing, walking, and keeping grass alive nearby.
Here is what is actually going on, when exposed roots are worth worrying about, and what you can safely do about the roots poking up in your yard.
Why do tree roots come up above ground?
Most tree roots live in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil and spread out wide instead of growing straight down. In Georgia red clay, that shallow spread happens even more. Clay holds water and drains slowly, so roots tend to stay close to the surface where there is more oxygen and easier growing.
Over the years, the tree keeps adding girth to those roots. The ones closest to the trunk slowly push up and break through the soil, especially after a few seasons of heavy rain wash a little topsoil away. Storm season in Atlanta speeds this up, since a hard summer downpour can erode an inch of soil off a root in one afternoon.
Species matters too. Maples, oaks, and river birches are known for showing surface roots early. Loblolly pines, which cover a lot of Atlanta yards, tend to root a little deeper, but even a mature pine will show some roots at the surface once it hits 20 or 30 years old.
Are tree roots above ground actually a problem?
Most of the time, no. A root breaking the surface a few feet from the trunk is just how a mature shade tree grows. It does not mean the tree is struggling.
A few situations are worth a closer look, though:
- Roots you or your family keep tripping over near a walkway, patio, or play area
- Roots close enough to a driveway, sidewalk, or foundation that they are starting to lift concrete
- A lawn mower blade catching a root every time you cut the grass
- New surface roots appearing around a tree that is also losing leaves early, dropping bark, or looking thin at the top, which can point to a separate health issue
If any of those sound familiar, it is worth having someone look at the tree. Otherwise, roots showing near the base of a big, healthy tree are just part of owning one.
What to do about tree roots above ground
The biggest rule with exposed roots: do not grab a shovel or a saw and start cutting before you think it through. Roots feed the tree, and cutting the wrong ones, especially the large structural roots near the trunk, can weaken it or open the door to rot and disease. If you are weighing whether a cut is safe, our guide on whether cutting tree roots will kill your tree walks through which roots you can trim and which ones you should leave alone.
Here is what usually works instead of cutting.
Cover them with mulch
A 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch spread in a wide ring around the tree is the easiest fix. It softens the trip hazard, keeps the roots from drying out during a hot Georgia summer, and looks a lot better than bare dirt or a root that is getting scraped by the mower every week. Keep the mulch a few inches back from the trunk itself so it is not piled against the bark.
Plant a low ground cover instead of grass
Grass struggles to grow over shallow roots anyway, since it is competing for the same water and light. Low ground covers like liriope, vinca, or pachysandra fill in around exposed roots, need less mowing, and hold up a lot better than turf in that spot. It is a small change that saves you from fighting the same patch of bare dirt every spring.
Skip the fill dirt
It is tempting to dump a few inches of soil over the roots to level things out, but piling soil against the trunk or over the root flare can trap moisture against the bark and lead to rot. If you need to change the grade near a tree, keep any new soil light, shallow, and well away from the trunk, or talk to a tree service before you move dirt.
Leave small feeder roots alone when you can
A thin root here and there, especially one that is small and far from the trunk, can sometimes be trimmed with little risk to the tree. Large roots close to the base are a different story, since those are often load bearing for the whole root system. When you are not sure which kind you are looking at, it is worth having someone check before you cut.
When to call a tree service
Give us a call if the roots are lifting a driveway or getting close to your foundation, if you are planning new plantings or hardscaping near a tree with exposed roots, or if the tree itself looks unhealthy alongside the surface roots. Our guide on tree roots and foundation damage covers the warning signs worth watching for near your house.
We can also tell you whether an old stump nearby is still feeding root growth into your yard. If a stump is part of the problem, stump grinding can stop new surface roots from spreading further while you deal with the ones you already have.
Every yard across Cobb, Fulton, Cherokee, Gwinnett, and Forsyth County has its own mix of soil, shade, and tree age, so what worked for your neighbor might not be the right call for your yard. If you have got tree roots above ground and are not sure what to do next, call Stanton Tree Service at (470) 914-3402 for a free estimate. We will take a look and give you a straight answer.