Tree question

I have three tall oaks in my front yard...more out back.

They have roots that have grown above ground level. My mower hits these things and they are hard on the front end of the mower. My question is can I cut these roots out without harming the trees.

Landscape- Mulch rings around the trees. Less area you have to mow. LOL!

They may be shallow as the result of watering that does not penetrate deep into the soil. I have a couple that are 10 feet away from the trunk and I am afraid that if I cut them it would make the tree unstable.
A tree falling on the house is a bad mental picture.

I don't know what type of oak you have, but Live Oaks do not like to have their roots disturbed. They won't even like it if you pile a bunch of dirt over them.

Right or wrong, I have chopped some of mine on my Red oak and the Pin Oak in the back yard. A few of the roots about 1 to 2" thick were surfacing. I took a hatchet to them years ago and the grass grew over them and the trees never knew the difference. Now big roots, 3" and above, I probably would not. I'm not an arborist, I don't care. I'm not having a root field where I want grass.

On a serious side, most oak trees will have feeder roots (near the soil surface) and tap roots. The feeder roots gather water normally, but in drought years the tap root feeds the tree. Some species handle getting their roots cut better than others. Check with your extension office folks, They will know the conditions in your area.

i wouldn't do it

Couple feeder roots won't be a big deal. I would have an arborist come and look at them though.

https://neilsperry.com/2012/05/texas-tree-tips-may-2012/

I'm sure Hop can tell you what to do from his time as an arborist

I had to skip that class so I could get the credits for "how to plan a gtg".

Hop would cut them down,saw into lumber and build a deck to cover the yard. And be done by dark.

dam skippy, bubba!

I would use a weed eater around them.

I would cover with soil and sod

Are you saying you don’t like Bobs method of taking a hatchet to the roots?

ph, the hop method would to buy some decorative flower bed edging bricks, a bunch of cypress mulch, hire two teenagers (provide masks) and put an 8' ring of mulch around them and say screw it.

this but only one brick, fill almost flush with mulch.

Can't cover them too deep or it can hurt the tree but just enough to cover the exposed root is what I'd try.

I mean I can cut some of your fingers or toes off and you won't die but it's probably not a good thing for you.

And knock out 100 more posts on the TFF while doing it

My trees never said anything. They just keep making zillions of acorns and leaves.

My wife murdered a BIG Red Oak and White Oak in our front yard by adding mulch around them. It took her 10 years but when they started loosing leaves in the middle of summer it was all over in a couple of months.

Bunch of firewood but an expensive lesson.

They had to be taken down a limb at a time.

man
that is hilarious

Just don't run your mower over it....

you can take pride in the fact that I am striving to follow in your famous shoes (I hope like heck you don't wear crocs tho)

I have one tree that way. I just mow around the exposed root and come back with a trimmer when finished.

I would dump bags of sand to create a long ramp around the exposed root(s). Then mow carefully over the roots and let my mower shave the exposed roots flat on top. I use the JD 445 to do that and don’t recommend anyone trying it with lesser tractor. A good shredder and seasoned operator makes this a 15 minute job. Just lower the shredder sloowly.