Author: Ervin Tagitis

A girdling root can become a serious problem for a tree when it grows around the trunk and begins restricting the tree’s natural growth. Over time, girdling roots can interfere with the movement of water and nutrients and put increasing pressure on the trunk.

Today, we removed a girdling root to help relieve that pressure and preserve the tree. Identifying and addressing root problems early can help protect tree health and prevent more serious structural issues from developing.

We stitched up another one today! This time, we were working at Beulah Heights Park in Foley, Alabama, for the City of Foley.

Multiple climbers were in the trees in Fairhope, Alabama, working together as a team to complete the tree care project. Coordinated climbing and ground support allow the crew to efficiently access different areas of the canopy while maintaining a careful and organized approach to the work.

Drilling holes in stumps is a waste of time. Buying so-called stump rot potions and treatments is a waste of money. While a stump will eventually break down naturally with the help of fungi and insects, that process can take a long time.

Burning a stump is time-consuming and rarely successful, while digging one out is extremely labor intensive.

Or, you could simply have us grind it with a stump grinder a machine specifically designed for the job.

Stump grinding is an efficient and inexpensive way to remove an unwanted stump without all the unnecessary hassle.

Are you worried that tree roots may be growing underneath your house? The short answer is: probably not.

Most homes built on slabs have a substantial foundation wall around the edges, which helps prevent roots from growing underneath the slab. Even when roots do make their way beneath a foundation, they typically do not grow large enough to cause significant damage.

When roots encounter a foundation, they generally don’t try to break through it. They may grow upward until they run out of suitable soil, or downward where oxygen becomes limited—yes, roots need oxygen too. Small exploratory roots may occasionally make it underneath a foundation, but compacted soil with little organic matter, nutrients, or usable water usually isn’t a favorable environment for continued root growth.

Most often, roots simply turn and continue growing in another direction.

If you’re still concerned about roots growing beneath your home, air excavation can be used to carefully remove soil and expose the roots, allowing us to see exactly where they’re growing without unnecessarily damaging them.

Our new supplemental tree support trailer is ready to go! This addition gives us the equipment and capability to efficiently transport the tools and materials needed for structural tree support and preservation projects. Another investment in providing professional, efficient, and reliable tree care.

As trees grow larger, the planting bed around them should also increase in width to provide the roots with more room to grow and access essential water and nutrients. As the canopy expands, the tree will naturally begin to shade out the grass underneath it.

Expanding the tree bed helps reduce competition between the tree and turf while creating a healthier growing environment for the tree’s expanding root system. Give the roots room to grow as the tree grows.

Performed reduction pruning and deadwood removal in Silverhill, Alabama. The work focused on removing dead and potentially hazardous branches while reducing selected limbs to help manage the tree’s size, weight, and overall structure.

Proper pruning can help improve tree structure and reduce potential hazards while maintaining as much of the healthy canopy as possible.

Removing Spanish moss and deadwood from trees in Daphne, Alabama. This work helps improve the appearance of the trees while removing dead branches and excess material from the canopy. Proper tree maintenance and pruning can help keep mature trees healthier, safer, and better maintained. The City of Daphne also emphasizes the importance of maintaining healthy, safe trees and preserving its natural resources.

Installed a lightning protection system for trees in Olde Towne Daphne, Alabama, helping provide a designated path for lightning to travel safely toward the ground rather than through the tree. Lightning protection systems are especially valuable for large, high-value, historic, or structurally significant trees.

This project adds another layer of protection while helping preserve the trees and their surrounding property for the long term. Chris Francis Tree Care provides professional lightning protection systems as part of its tree preservation and safety services.