Tree roots invading your garden?

Credit: Flickr / noahg.

tree-roots—noahg.jpg

Q: We have a root growing into our garden from a green maple tree. The tree is about 40 feet tall and the root is about 3 inches in diameter and lies about 10 feet from the trunk. If I cut it off will it damage the tree?

If you only cut one root that is 10 feet from the tree and 3 inches across, you will not harm the tree. It will have a huge network of roots much wider and larger than that one.