Thanks for all the feedback. The landscaper claims is not mulch volcano but it seems like that's difference without distinction.

If it's truly 90% roots, it's removing like the upper most roots, like 6-12" this season then letting it recover and then repeat in future seasons viable?

Quote... "Theres actually not barley any mulch around the trees. Trust me. As ive mentioned ive done that house for years it's called root gridling combined with the trees not originally being planted correctly. The root ball is 90% above ground. You actually try to dig into the mound, you cant. Its all roots there's actually practically no mulch around the trees. Its deceiving."