  
|
www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk Forum Index
-> Gardeners World |
|
| Author |
Message |
Sugarcat
Junior Member
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 7
Location: East Croydon
|
 Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject: Removing Tree Roots |
  |
|
|
Hi - I cut down a holly bush - which had grown into a tree! But the roots are still there. How best to remove them? Is it true that copper nails banged into the stump will kill th eroots off? Or is this a myth? Will the chemical stuff available ruin the soil? Because if I can't plant anything in the earth afterwards than that would be awful!
Or do I have to just dig the roots out?
Sugarcat |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
|
Bludall
Senior Member
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 8789
Location: East Midlands
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
Hi Sugar,
We recently took out a forsythia tree that was fairly hefty at 14 years old. We used an azada to hack the bigger roots to pieces, it was hard going but we got the biggest roots out that way then dug up the smaller ones. I'd try the brute force first and if all else fails get a systemic root killer. Having never used one on tree roots though, I'd imagine that it'd take ages to kill them.
_________________
Do a good deed every day and put a smile on someone's face!
I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow is not looking good either. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sugarcat
Junior Member
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 7
Location: East Croydon
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| Thanks Bludall - I guess I'll have to roll my sleeves up then! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bludall
Senior Member
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 8789
Location: East Midlands
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
Good luck!! 
I use a heavy medium azada.
A link
Azada
_________________
Do a good deed every day and put a smile on someone's face!
I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow is not looking good either. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Slugster
Senior Member
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 965
Location: Cotswolds
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
It's a thankless task but the best method I've found is to use a pruning saw to cut the roots off where they join the trunk and then follow each root back digging it out along it's length.
Do this for each one. It sounds like a big job but it makes one nasty big horrible job into several more manageable ones.
As for my qualifications to give this advice...
I've dug out 5 40 year old trees from my garden. Two of them were conifers and one of them has a trunk 2 foot across - nearly killed me.
and this is probably too late to help Sugarcat - but never cut a tree you want to dig out down to ground level.
Always leave 4 to 6 foot of trunk, this acts as a lever when you are wiggling the stump free
Good luck
_________________
Nothing you do is a waste of time - especially if it can be used as a bad example by others... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hoovie
Devon DIYer
Joined: 27 Jul 2007
Posts: 8043
Location: East Devon
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
I got a man in with a stump grinder to do all mine
Of course, in the process, he smashed the glass in one of my French Windows at the back and the rear window on my RAV4 in the front, but at least my back didn't hurt after 
_________________
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?"
She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sugarcat
Junior Member
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 7
Location: East Croydon
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| Thanks all. I'll try having a go myself first! Wish me luck!!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
