> I cut out a bunch of roots and within a month the exact sections of the canopy corresponding to the roots I cut went brown. Root systems in general (for tree

> I cut out a bunch of roots and within a month the exact sections of the canopy corresponding to the roots I cut went brown. Root systems in general (for trees at least) mirror what's happening above ground. Pruning trees is a beneficial intervention, as it causes the corresponding roots to die and decompose. This not only makes precious biomatter available for recycling by the microorganisms in the soil, but also releases chemical signals that cause the tree itself and neighbouring plants to send out new growth.