To　investigate　the　influence　of　tree　roots　on　the　triggering　mechanism　of　shallow　landslides,　this　study　focused　on　a　typical　vegetation-covered　cluster　landslide　in　the　Wuping　area　of　China.　A　tree　root　profile　investigation　and　a　double-ring　infiltration　test　were　conducted.　The　undisturbed　soil　samples　were　collected　for　laboratory　tests　to　measure　the　influence　of　tree　vegetation　on　soil　physical　and　hydraulic　properties.　The　root　reinforcement　effect　is　limited　by　the　depth　of　root　distribution,　with　over　90%　of　the　roots　situated　above　the　slip　surface.　The　presence　of　roots　increases　the　resistance　of　the　soil　to　disintegration.　The　soil　disintegration　in　the　0–80　cm　layer　was　less　than　25%　after　24　h　of　water　immersion　and　the　soil　undergoes　complete　disintegration　at　a　depth　of　180–200　cm　within　120　s.　Tree　roots　facilitate　the　infiltration　of　soil,　and　Ks　at　0　m　was　11.21　times　than　that　at　2　m,　and　the　interface　between　soils　with　roots　and　soils　without　roots　may　become　a　sliding　surface.　Under　extreme　rainfall　conditions,　the　root　system　promotes　water　infiltration,　accelerates　the　softening　and　disintegration　of　the　soil　on　the　sliding　surface,　which　adversely　affects　the　stability　of　landslides.　©　2024　The　Author(s).　Published　by　Informa　UK　Limited,　trading　as　Taylor　&　Francis　Group.