What kind of soil do you have? That may be part of the issue. In my sandy loam amended with organic matter, I haven't noticed that this is an issue with any of my H. paniculata. However, I either plant fairly densely or use mulch in more exposed areas and so in most cases the roots wouldn't be visible regardless.

I don't understand why you were cutting surface roots since the plant will grow as suits it best and removing any healthy roots seems counterproductive.

If you don't like the appearance of the surface roots, give it a light coating of undyed organic mulch such as shredded bark, or plant a groundcover nearby that will wander over to cover the exposed roots.

Heh, figured I could retrain it...and I was planting annuals during that time.

I think part of the issue was the plant plug. Granted, I did the usual root swipes on the rootball, and loosened as much of the potted medium (within reason) before it went into the ground.

I did not realize how much ~ fast draing bark~ was of the medium and or combo of bark /peat until literally this year. Meaning in ground for 2 years, and when I took a shovel to put a small annual plug in the aformentioned area, as you got deeper, out came out dry'ish bark chips from the original pot/plant plug. I was not expecting to see dry bark come out when the shovel came out.