#trunk flare

Tree care #2

These are some very satisfying examples of Root Flare on trees; they look great, they are healthy, and this is exactly how all trees flares should look like. If you see a big tree coming straight up from the ground, with no root flare showing, like this:

then know that this tree is planted too deep, it’s root flare is not getting the air exposure and oxygen it needs; this tree will get very sick and won’t be able to live as long. 

Root flares are supposed to be above the ground level, these are not roots, they need to be kept dry, not covered in soil or mulch, or they’re susceptible to rot. Once the tree starts rotting, she can still stay alive, but unhealthy. However, these trees can be saved! There are teams going on missions to dig out the root flare, and this will help the tree to gain back health. Not enough people do that tho, so if you see a big tree without any root flare showing, consider getting your hands dirty and digging around to see if there’s any flare you can free up. Your tree will love you and look beautiful and healthy. Healthy trees can live forever.

Source (click to watch a video of more examples and explanations, male narration tho)

Look at those trees. I was staring at them today and I honestly can't tell what their deal is. They might even be just one tree, that at some point fell down, and then decided, eh this works too, and just kept growing. Because what tree would intentionally grow like this? But then the one in the background is just the same, half-horizontal, half-tree.

I feel like it might be related to the area they're growing on; this place gets heavily flooded, and it's all mud and clay, so I assume the roots and trunks got unstabilized due to waterflow, then figured out a way to keep still when the flood comes – by simply having the tree lie down.

Look at that trunk flare tho! All the tips of roots are visible above the soil, they look so cool, and this is actually a great thing. All trees should have the root flare visible, because this part of the tree is supposed to be above the soil level, and it needs exposure to oxygen, it could easily rot if trapped underground. When you see a tree that just starts vertically with no roots visible, that is a tree that will get sick if not helped.

I can't tell how these will do but I love them very much, they are coping, and other people love them too. Those pieces of wood you see in the front—that's a table, the flood water took away the top plank. People like to come and have a picnic there! Here's a bonus pic of how this place looks in the summer.