I have a 9ft tall Thuja Plicata Zebrina Western Red Cedar. Trunk's 4.5" dia trunkand has two surface roots at the base growing beside each other. My first impulse was to cut the smaller one on the left, when they were much smaller. After some hesitation and procrastination, they've grown. The one on the left I'm considering pruning is the size of my index finger, maybe smaller. The tree itself has a very strong root system all the way around, as I've seen some of them when weeding or diggin near it. It's been vigorously growing in it's location 2+yrs now and is what I'd consider pretty well established after the growth spurt we got last year of about 2 ft. I do still water when needed.
These two roots growing so closely parallel to each other at a young age don't seem like a great idea - not to me anyway. I think they'd develop potential issues later on that wouldn't be so easily remedied by the time they become an issue, possibly even some rot between them. I've thought about taking my razor sharp chisel and cleanly removing the left smaller root so it can heal up nicely and not look back as the other one doesn't have to compete. I have done this on multiple maple trees that were absolutely plagued with strangle or girdle roots that most would've given up on quickly, and had excellent success. Even saving trees that were dying before hand. So at least, I've had practice and know how to be careful.
This tree is important to us and we're pretty attached to it.
I was hoping I could get some input from you all first, if I may? I know the tree won't like it, but it's still early and cool, so it's my thinking that what we'd be preventing in the long run would be worth it? Am I wrong?
Also, and maybe this warrants a different thread - please let me know if so. I can't find definitive info on this tree. Some say full sun, some say shade. Some say drought tolerant while others say wet lands? And the height,.. some say 25ft x 15ft wide while others say 125 ft tall x 40 ft wide. Oddly enough, this sis supposed to be a native,... what gives? lol! Does anyone know this tree enough to tell me about it?
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
These two roots growing so closely parallel to each other at a young age don't seem like a great idea - not to me anyway. I think they'd develop potential issues later on that wouldn't be so easily remedied by the time they become an issue, possibly even some rot between them. I've thought about taking my razor sharp chisel and cleanly removing the left smaller root so it can heal up nicely and not look back as the other one doesn't have to compete. I have done this on multiple maple trees that were absolutely plagued with strangle or girdle roots that most would've given up on quickly, and had excellent success. Even saving trees that were dying before hand. So at least, I've had practice and know how to be careful.
This tree is important to us and we're pretty attached to it.
I was hoping I could get some input from you all first, if I may? I know the tree won't like it, but it's still early and cool, so it's my thinking that what we'd be preventing in the long run would be worth it? Am I wrong? Also, and maybe this warrants a different thread - please let me know if so. I can't find definitive info on this tree. Some say full sun, some say shade. Some say drought tolerant while others say wet lands? And the height,.. some say 25ft x 15ft wide while others say 125 ft tall x 40 ft wide. Oddly enough, this sis supposed to be a native,... what gives? lol! Does anyone know this tree enough to tell me about it?
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
