PSA: The 'one third' rule for root flare exposure is a starting point, not a law.

I see so many crews in my area hack away at the base of a tree until they hit flare, even if it means exposing roots 8 inches down. Watched a crew do this to a red maple last fall, leaving a giant, unstable crater. The tree was leaning badly by spring. You have to read the tree and the soil type, not just follow a number. How do you judge when enough is enough on a mature tree?

3 comments

3 Comments

carr.luna1d ago

Watch them create a tree-sized flower pot and call it professional landscaping.

kevint4721h ago

Right? I've seen some truly wild stuff passed off as high end design. It's a bold choice, for sure.

ray61321h ago

Last year a hotel in Miami had a lobby fountain that was just a slowly dripping pipe into a rusty bucket. The brochure called it "deconstructed hydrology." @kevint47 is right, the wildest stuff gets a fancy name and a huge price tag. I saw a "sculptural bench" that was three cinder blocks with a board on top selling for two grand. At some point it feels less like bold design and more like a prank on rich people.