How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Root Rot in Trees
Root rot is a serious and often deadly disease that attacks a tree’s root system, causing roots to decay and die. Plant roots need a balance of water and air to stay healthy; overwatered conditions can deplete oxygen, leading to root rot. Left untreated, root rot can lead to the rapid decline — and ultimately the death — of your trees. Understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatment options is critical for maintaining healthy, thriving trees.
At Evergreen Tree Care, we specialize in diagnosing and treating tree health issues like root rot before they become major problems. Here’s what you need to know to protect your trees.
What is Root Rot?
Root rot is primarily caused by overly wet soil conditions, which create an environment that fosters fungi and bacteria.
When soil remains saturated, it deprives roots of oxygen, weakening the tree’s natural defenses. Fungal spores thrive in soggy soil, contributing to the spread of root rot pathogens. Harmful fungi such as Phytophthora can quickly take hold, infecting the roots and cutting off the tree’s ability to absorb water and nutrients. Root rot fungi are a significant cause of this disease, as they prefer wet soil conditions and can severely damage plant roots.
Once roots begin to rot, a tree’s health can decline rapidly. Without intervention, the damage can be irreversible.
Causes of Root Rot
The most common causes of root rot include:
- Overwatering: Saturated soil limits oxygen, putting stress on the roots. Overwatered conditions lead to root rot by creating sustained wet conditions that suffocate plant roots, resulting in disease. Avoid overwatering if you think your tree is at risk of root rot fungi.
- Poor Drainage: Waterlogged soil allows fungi to thrive.
- Compacted Soil: Restricts water flow and oxygen to roots.
- Prolonged Flooding: Prolonged exposure to water increases infection risk by creating extended wet soil conditions that lead to a lack of oxygen for the roots, ultimately spreading the rot to healthier roots.
Applying too much fertilizer can also worsen root rot, as excess salts in the soil can harm already stressed roots.
Prevention Tip: Always ensure good drainage, use a well-draining soil mix, and adjust watering based on weather and soil conditions. Avoid watering too often to decrease the chance of root rot.
Root Rot Symptoms
Because root rot occurs below ground, it’s often hard to spot until it’s advanced. Watch for these early warning signs:
- Yellowing or wilting leaves: Yellow leaves indicate poor health in plants, often due to root rot.
- Stunted growth
- Thinning canopy
- Leaning or unstable trees
- Plants with root rot tend to have fungal growth at the base of the trunk
- Soft, mushy, or discolored roots if exposed: Infected roots appear soft and brown, indicating the presence of rotten roots due to overwatering and fungal pathogens.
If you notice any signs of rotting roots, early action is critical to saving your tree or indoor plants.
The Role of the Plant’s Soil in Root Rot
Soil health plays a major role in preventing root rot. Wet, heavy soils create a breeding ground for fungal infections. To reduce the risk:
- Use a soil mix with good drainage, including ingredients like peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, bark, and compost.
- Use sterile potting soil to prevent rot and promote healthy plant growth.
- Avoid dense garden soil for container planting, as it can compact easily.
- Water plants deeply but allow soil to dry slightly between watering.
Managing soil moisture levels is crucial for preventing and treating root rot. Proper watering practices, along with understanding specific plant needs, can help maintain optimal soil moisture to prevent the condition.
For most plants, maintaining a healthy soil environment is one of the best defenses against root rot.
How Evergreen Tree Care Can Help Fix Root Rot
Our tree care specialists are trained to detect and address root rot on outdoor plants early, offering customized solutions that protect your landscape. Our approach includes:
- Diagnosis: We evaluate soil, drainage, and visible symptoms while sterilizing our tools with rubbing alcohol to prevent contamination. Preserving the remaining healthy roots is crucial during this process.
- Soil Aeration: Increasing oxygen flow to roots through professional aeration.
- Drainage Solutions: Redirecting excess water to improve soil health.
- Targeted Treatments: Applying specialized treatments to slow fungal growth and gently remove unhealthy roots while preserving healthy ones.
- Tree Removal (if necessary): Safely removing severely infected trees to protect nearby plants. If the infection has spread too extensively, tree removal may be necessary to protect surrounding plants and prevent further damage.
- Repotting: If applicable, we repot plants with fresh soil, removing unhealthy roots and using appropriate containers and specialized potting mixes to give plants a fresh start.
Our goal is always to save your trees when possible — and to provide expert removal services if it’s the best choice for the long-term health of your landscape.
Treat Root Rot with Evergreen Tree Care
If root rot is diagnosed, fast action is crucial. Addressing the root system in its early stages is essential to prevent further damage. Treatment typically involves:
- Removing infected sections of the roots to prevent the disease from growing.
- Repotting (for potted plants) in fresh, well-draining soil.
- Improving soil drainage and adjusting watering practices.
- Increasing airflow around roots when possible.
To treat root rot, carefully remove the plant from its pot and inspect the roots. Cut away any rotting sections with sterilized scissors, then repot the plant in fresh soil. Ensure the new pot has adequate drainage holes to prevent future issues.
Ongoing monitoring of soil and plant health helps prevent root rot from returning.
Prevent Root Rot in Your Trees— Act Early
Root rot fungi can spread to other plants quickly, but early detection and proactive care make a difference. Regular tree inspections, proper watering techniques, and healthy soil management are key to keeping your trees strong. Taking timely action can help your plants survive.
At Evergreen Tree Care, we offer customized tree health services to protect your investment and preserve the beauty of your landscape for years to come. Maintaining healthy roots and plants is crucial, and we emphasize sourcing plants from reputable suppliers and using sterilized tools and soil.
Our services are part of a broader commitment to gardening practices that ensure the longevity and vitality of your plants.
If you suspect root rot or need a professional tree health check-up, don’t wait—contact Evergreen Tree Care today!