Child Item

How to get rid of big roots?

Hi all,

Need advice how to get rid of these roots.

Moved in to a new house and these roots are all over the entrance on a rock. However, they have gone under the entrance pathway and might be under building as well.

Really worried about the damage they have made.

How can I get rid of them?

Thanks

Sam

Find more posts tagged with

Repairing

Gardening

Comments

EricL

Hello @Samnet

Thanks for sharing your question about your tree roots. I think this particular project will require the skills of a tree specialist. Technically you can chop off the surface roots that are within immediate view, but it's the roots that you don't see or the ones that have burrowed deep into the soil that are difficult to eliminate. I currently live in a property where the roots have entered the concrete base of the house and are making the tiles crack randomly. We remove the roots that we can, but it has overwhelmed the floor underneath.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Dave-1

Evening @Samnet

Roots are a pain, and trying to remove them even more of a pain 😕

So first question, is the plant that the roots belong to still wanted? It will change what you can do if you want to keep the plant.

I had the same issue occurring last weekend in fact...

My Jacaranda was getting too tall and would hit my overhead powerlines even tho I have kept pruning it so it dosnt. When the wind blows the whole top would bump up against my wires. This plus the roots were starting to crack the terrace retaining wall sealed the deal, it had to go 😕

Ive talked to a few people over the years and watched a few discussions on what can be done. I trully didnt expect the roots to be so exstinsive and large for the size of tree it was. My solution was to remove the tree, plus the roots that I could see. The rest will rot eventually and decompose. The crack in the wall will remain but im ok with that.

01 31-08-2024.jpg

Jacaranda roots 😲 I chopped these off with an ozito pruning saw...

02 31-08-2024.jpg

The tree I would call a young tree but the roots, wooooo solid as

03 31-08-2024.jpg

The terrace really held the roots insitu. I chopped all I could reach

04 31-08-2024.jpg

The stump, it also goes straight down. I have hit it with the crowbar to create wedges in the timber. I will keep breaking off any shoots and will come back and chop it some more when I plant the garden out.

I hope the cracks will stop expanding and the issues stop.

Option B for you

If you decide to keep the plant the roots belong to then id suggest a breakaway trench as I call it. This is an airgap trench you dig beside your pathway. (the roots under the path will die and rot away) the airgap is to stop the roots continuing to want to grow towards the path. The trench should be 500mm deep and faced with something solid as in bricks when finished. Literally a retaining wall back to front to give that airgap. The far side (the side the roots are growing down) will hopefully be rock. If not then id do the same brickwork as the other side It would like like the trench that the tie fighters fly down in star wars 🙂 That way the roots are left insitu on the far side so hopefully the plant will survive.

Dave

Samnet

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/42046#Comment_42046

Hi Dave,

Thanks for your advice

I don't want to keep it. I want to get rid of the roots as well as the plant

I don't know how far the roots have gone tho

Alao,as the roots are on the rock, I was told not to use chainsaw. What's the best way to remove them?

Thanks

Saman

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/83147#Comment_83147

Evening @Samnet

The roots once chopped off will die off and rot. If you are unsure of if the plant can "regrow" once its lost its head then I would look up the type of plant it is and see how it grows. There are apps for your phone that will identify leaves of plants or take a leaf and some pics down to your local Bunnings nusery 🙂 I dont like using poision to kill the roots tho a lot of people do as I dont want to introduce poisons into the ground around my garden/local area.

Dave

Samnet

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/106436#Comment_106436

Thanks @Dave-1

I guess it's creeping fig (I used google lens)

Thanks

Saman

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/120404#Comment_120404

hahahah and 😲 @Samnet

Yeah Id definently remove that one 🙂

Dave

Nailbag

I have used my reciprocating saw @Samnet dozens of times to cut roots to help remove stumps. I use a long pruning blade that I can happily dig in to the ground without damage to access the roots up to 10". Then use a shovel and crowbar on the stump. Pics below is one I removed about 3 weeks ago after it pushed over a retaining wall that I rebuilt.

For stumps I haven't been able to remove I cut as low to the ground as possible. Then use a large auger to drill deep holes in to the base and use a funnel to pour in this poison to kill it.

This is a technique you can't use a chainsaw for without ruining the chain and bar in seconds.

Regards, Nailbag

Screenshot 2024-09-12 at 10.36.37 PM.png

Samnet

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/42057#Comment_42057

Hi @Dave-1 and @Nailbag

What can I do to make sure nothing will regrow in that area? I want that part of the house plant free. I've heard I need to pour salt on the soil. Is it true?

Thanks

Sam

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/83184#Comment_83184

Well, it certainly worked for the Romans at the destruction of Carthage @Samnet! But before you grab the salt, there are better long-term solutions to ensure plants won't regrow in that area.

Salt can cause soil damage, affecting surrounding plants and water runoff, so it’s not the best option. Instead, consider using a heavy-duty weed mat. This will block sunlight and prevent anything from sprouting. Cover it with gravel or pebbles for an extra barrier and a neat finish.

You could also apply a chemical herbicide like Zero, which kills the roots of most plants. Just be careful when applying it to avoid harming nearby plants.