Q.Shallow Roots On A Velvet Mesquite
Hello! I have a few-years-old velvet mesquite in my front yard in Tucson, Arizona. During one monsoon a few years ago, high winds caused the tree to tilt a few degrees that I was unable to correct. The tree has since at least tripled in girth and I’ve trimmed the canopy to preserve an “upright” spread. However, there are some large, shallow roots I’m concerned about. These have continued to grow in size over time at ground level. I would like to preserve the stability of this tree in light of future monsoon seasons. Is there any way to increase stability here? Could I pile on boulders (2×2 feet, etc.) on the shallow roots along with dirt to lightly cover the shallow roots? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Certified GKH Gardening Expert
We have just the article to help you correct a leaning tree, properly! This will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/straighten-tree.htm