WILD ROOTS GIRDLE STEM

Big cherry tree in a little garden. In the upper left corner, the client discarded old soil mix from their indoor plants. The cherry's roots changed course 270 degrees and headed straight for the tasty soil mix, girdling half the base of the trunk.  The fine  roots were spread in the mix like two greedy hands, raking it in.  Top of the tree lost its leaves in August. We removed the soil mix and cut the girdling roots with wood chisels.