[secondnature]

Hey what do you do when large trees are removed and compromise the beds surrounding from being planted with their roots? What are some of the solutions out there?

Thanks!

[jwholden]

Could you please say that again with a little more detail.

[Inspired]

Are you saying there are large (OLD) roots grown into a garden area you want to plant?

[secondnature]

oh sorry....lets see...when these large trees are removed, they leave behind a planting bed full of roots. I am just interested in what other folks in the landscape field have for solutions.
Create a raised bed? Can the roots be removed, but only after time? Do the roots eventually disintegrate and when?

thanks

[Forge]

Dig out the roots that are in the way....

[VoodooChile]

The roots will decay in time, but not quickly enough to make the new planting easy.

You might modify your container size if you are planting perennials, and use plugs instead of larger sizes like gallons.

If you are planting trees and shrubs with large root-balls, than do what Forge suggests, and use hand-saws and chain-saws to remove roots as needed.

The King of Spades nursery spade is also useful for such work, lovingly known by my guys as "The Bomber".

[secondnature]

Forge,

Was hoping for some other ideas aside from the absolute obvious!! The roots are HUGE as it is a native Maple that was removed.

Thanks, tho!

Originally posted by Forge
Dig out the roots that are in the way....

[secondnature]

VooDoo,

Thanks! I will have to take a look at this awesome spade you are talking about!

Seems like lately I have had lots of inquiries about big trees and the collateral damage they do to beds that they are currently in and also to beds that they have recently been in! Sometimes folks have trees in beds that need a little renovating (new plants, etc) and we have these HUGE ROOTS to maneuver through whilst planting shrubs, etc.
Just seeing if there were any other solutions beyond what I was doing to remedy the issue!

Thank you!

Originally posted by VoodooChile
The roots will decay in time, but not quickly enough to make the new planting easy.

You might modify your container size if you are planting perennials, and use plugs instead of larger sizes like gallons.

If you are planting trees and shrubs with large root-balls, than do what Forge suggests, and use hand-saws and chain-saws to remove roots as needed.

The King of Spades nursery spade is also useful for such work, lovingly known by my guys as "The Bomber".

[Stonehenge]

The roots will take an extremely long time to decay to the point where you can plant in and around them. Building up a bed just to avoid removable tree roots seems like an expensive solution to a small problem, and forcing a design element that isn’t necessary.

Why are the roots such a big deal? Saws, trucks stump grinders and/or skid steers would make quick work of them.

[Raj Venugopal]

Get a backhoe, dig out the roots in the bed, fill back up with good soil/compost.

[Forge]

If it is a big-leaf maple then you can expect the roots to decompose to a state where they are easily removed in about 3 years...that is of course assuming that the tree was actually killed as those buggers have a STRONG tendency to start sprouting back up, even if the stump is ground down.

At least you aren't trying to work in a bed that used to have a Red Cedar!

[Mark Oomkes]

I'd echo the saw--either chain or cutoff type--or a stump grinder. Good operators can chase them quite a ways and remove quite a bit of them, unless they're something like locusts in an island surrounded by pavement.

[secondnature]

Hey thanks everyone! Great solutions.

Also, what about if old planting beds have a large, old tree STILL alive and growing. I have had issues with that also. Lots of large often surfacing roots, make planting difficult. I am wondering how much nice new garden mix is OK to dump on top of these roots without suffocating the tree?

Also, often these roots are creeping beyond the bed and into the lawn. What are some creative solutions for this situation?

[tom]

What species are the trees? How much of the area within the dripline are you wanting to fill?

Several inches of a garden mix might be okay. You'd definitelywant to stay away from filling with a clay soil.