WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST?
Speaking of tree roots, here is a couple of examples of how adaptable & important tree roots can be. First, tree roots can really keep a stream-bank together as evidenced by this sugar maple. You can also see just how adaptable those roots have been over the decades by looking at all the woundwood covering over injured areas. The curving roots probably have occurred because of the lack of space and also the requirement to keep the tree well-anchored in such a precarious position. The photo of the down tree showcases just how shallow most tree’s root systems are. The anchorage of such a heavy structure comes from roots spreading far wider than their “drip-lines” for balance and leverage.
Ryan Trapani
Director of Forest Services
Catskill Forest Association