Thirsty Tree Roots = Dry Turf

Tree roots can be very detrimental to turf because they literally suck up all the water.  Turf usually suffers the most in areas where the tree roots monopolize the available water.  A prime example of this is the 13th green on Palmetto.  You may have noticed the large dry patch on the back left of the green.  We have known that the large oak tree roots were the main reason that area has stayed overly dry in the past.  The area has been hand watered on an as needed basis, but the heat has taken its toll.  The area became overly dry to the point we experienced turf loss and needed to be resodded.  Prior to resodding we decided to run the root pruner, up by the green, to cut the water hogging tree roots.  I was surprised at the number of roots that were growing up into the collar and green.  Its no wonder the grass was being out competed for the available water in the soil. 

Notice the size and number of roots we cut through while root pruning in the collar. 

Here is a view of the area after we sodded the green and the collar where we root pruned.  This picture puts a perspective on just how far the tree roots extend out from the base of the tree.