If you’ve ever been mowing the lawn and heard that awful clunk, you've come to the right place. Exposed roots are a common issue in many yards. They’re easy to trip over, hard on mower blades, and can even make you wonder if you’re hurting your tree or your equipment. So, what’s the best move if you have an issue with roots? Should you mow over them, cut them, or leave them be? Let’s keep it simple and look at what happens when roots meet lawn mowers.
Why Are My Roots Above Ground?
Roots don’t always stay hidden. As mature trees grow, their roots get wider and stronger. Some types (like maples, oaks, and poplars) are more likely to have shallow, surface roots. Rain, wind, soil erosion, and foot traffic can also expose roots that were once covered. It’s normal, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to mow around.
When roots grow above the soil surface, they’re not doing it to be a nuisance. They need access to oxygen, water, and space. Trying to cover surface tree roots with a thick layer of soil can smother the roots. Cutting them out entirely? That can hurt the entire tree and even cause it to die.
Does Hitting Roots Hurt Your Mower?
Yes... If the root is thick and your mower blade hits it a couple of times at full speed, the impact can bend or dull the blade. Over time, repeated contact can even wreck the motor or cause lawnmower damage like a bent spindle on a rider. Not to mention, it’s dangerous. A sharp kickback from hitting a root can cause you to lose control of a push mower.
It's not just big, obvious roots either. Even smaller roots can throw off your blade or make your mower jump. If you’re mowing quickly or not watching closely, you might not even see the roots before it's too late.
Can Mowing Hurt the Tree?
It can. Mowing over above-ground tree roots doesn’t just have negative impact on your mower—it's a threat to tree health as well. When a lawn mower blade scrapes or hits the root surface, it can strip away the outer layer of bark. This bark protects the root and helps it carry water uptake and nutrients.
Superficial damage to the bark may seem minor; however, it opens the root up to disease and decay. Over time, this sort of root damage weakens the root system. Some species of trees never recover if enough critical roots are damaged. The worst-case scenario? Tree removal... it becomes unstable and may need to be removed.
Instead of mowing right over roots, try these simple solutions:
- Create an organic mulch ring around the base
- Use a string trimmer near roots instead of a mower
- Plant shade-tolerant ground cover in the area
- Reroute your mowing path to avoid problem spots
If you can't avoid the roots, you have to keep a close eye and lift your riding mower blade as you pass over, or pop a wheelie or drive around it with your push mower.
FAQ
Can I cut exposed roots to make mowing easier?
It’s not a good idea. Cutting surface roots can make a tree unstable and may stop it from absorbing water properly. In some cases, removing large roots can even kill it.
Is there a way to keep roots from coming back up?
You can slow it down by keeping the lawn surface around the tree healthy with a mulch bed and ground cover. But roots may always find their way to the surface again over time—especially with older trees or ones that naturally grow shallow roots.
I have exposed roots but no trees anywhere around?
These are most likely leftovers from a previous dead tree removal. If they are major tree roots, I'd probably cut them out or use a stump grinder attachment for my lawn tractor to grind them out. You can also call a lawn care business that might have a maneuverable stump grinder.
