Question
We have fruitless mulberry trees across the west face of our front lawn.  We are planning to install curbs around the lawn area.  There are large roots raised above the ground.  If we cut them to make the curb level, will the tree die.  The root is about 10 inches in diameter.  Waiting for your reply and thank you.

Answer
Hi Joyce;
Well, Fruitless Mulberries are  soft wood, fast growing tree.
I put one in my front yard when we bought this house, for the quick shade. Our house fces the west.
It is a very pretty tree, but it has been a pain in the neck.
these trees tend to shoot their roots up to the surface. they need a lot of water, and if you don't water down ehere they are, like any other root, they come to the surface, but these trees sem to be much worse about that.
If you don't take out the roots, chances are they will destroy the curb you put in.
The parts of the tree fed by these roots will probably die and have to be cut off.
I would think the limbs hanging oer thise roots are the ones that will die out.
You could try cutting the roots back to about 4 or 5 feet from the curb, and that may not kill out those limbs, if you have room to do that.
those roots should put down new feeder roots.
That might leave enough roots to absorb enough nutrients and water to keep those limbs of the tree alive.
Or, if you don't NEEd the tree for shade etc, you might consider just doing away with it.
If you decide to cut back, make sure you keep those roots watered deeply enough to keep them from coming back to the surface.
Charlotte