Cherry tree root

I have a mature cherry tree, trunk is about 2 and a half feet round near the base. No idea of its age, we inherited with the house. The area in which it sits is covered with sea-shore pebbles, the tree itself is in a square "island" of soil which we like to keep planted up with something suitable for the season. The "island" is edged on each of its four sides with a slab of rope top edging set in concrete. Now the problem. One of the edging slabs is being lifted out of its seating by one of the roots which I know grow near the surface.
Question - if I simply cut through the root to allow the slab to drop down, will it harm the tree?

 

How tall is the tree and how far from the tree trunk do you want to cut through the root cr1tical?

 

Thanks for your interest. The tree is 14 feet or so high and the root(s) I need to cut are 6 inches from the nearest part of the trunk.

 

The fact that it's a mature tree gives you a 50/50 chance on whether severing that root will damage it. If where you wanted to cut it was quite a bit further away I'd say it wasn't a problem. However, if it's only one or two roots at most then the chances are it won't suffer but there are no guarantees. The risk is down to you of course but if you decide to cut it/them, then leave it until the tree is fully dormant this winter.

 

Thank you for your advice. It has only given us a crop of cherries twice in the 9 years we have been here so the 50/50 chance is well worth taking. I'll hang on till later as you suggest. Thank you for your time.

 

You're welcome.

 

Roots are to trees what throats are to humans - they carry life-giving water and nutrients from the soil into the tree. How would you fare if someone prevented you from drinking? Yes, severing a root will harm a tree - how could it not. What you would need to be concerned about is the degree of damage and what the ramifications will be.