Exposed Pine Roots Creating Mowing Hazards: Cover, Don’t Cut

Can I Cut Off Surface Roots on My Pine?

Surface roots on a “ball pine” form knots within 4 feet of the trunk, making mowing difficult.

Cutting major roots can kill or destabilize the tree.

Apply up to 4 inches of good topsoil over exposed roots. This protects roots from mower blades and foot traffic without harming the tree.

Conifers: Pencil Pine Root Damage to Pavers: Cut Trench, Don't Shave Roots; Pine Tree Near House: Root Risk vs. Wind Risk; Pine Stump Grinding Debris: Termite Myth and Creative Reuse; Pine Tree Taproot Depth: Myths and Reality; Cutting One Pine Root for a Deck Foundation: Is It Safe?; House Addition 3–4 Ft from 30-Ft Pine in Arizona: Protect the Root Zone; Managing Neighbor's Pine Tree Roots Encroaching Your Yard; Pine Construction Damage: Resin Sealing Good Sign; Managing Surface Roots on a Ponderosa Pine: Why Cutting Roots Is a Mistake; Pine Tree Surface Roots & Deer-Resistant Plants in Upstate NY

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