Last Sept. I purchased and planted two 1.75 caliper autumn blaze maples. The trees were in containers. I had an arborist plant the trees. He told me he addressed the roots when he removed the trees from the containers.

I live in Northern Kentucky.

I was digging up the mulch around the trees today getting ready to put some new mulch down. I noticed a ring of roots about 10 inches from the trunk on both trees. I am very concerned about the long term health of the trees since this looks like a classic girdling root situation.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm wondering if I can somehow address the girdling roots and stop them from potantially damaging the trees.

Thanks.

From here I've learned that the hard, brown roots aren't taking any nutrients. It's the fine, white roots that are important.

Anyone can correct me, of course.
I'm going to watch this thread because I have a Pacific Sunset my STBX planted in its burlap, in the wire cage. I'm convinced that's why after 6 years it's not thriving.

I am tough on my plants and trees.
If my maples looked like that, I'd water pretty hard.
Then I'd start carefully digging around them.
I'd definitely cut this root.
It looks like the planter didn't spread out the root system at all, plus, all the new, hair-like roots are trying to grow up and over this one. And that circled root looks like it's been growing around, inside a pot for quite some time. I'm willing to bet if you leave it, it'll eventually choke the tree.

What's the condition of the tree itself? Is it thriving? Good leaf condition?

Those pictures just don't look healthy.