Can't plant because of tree roots!?

Question

Would be ever so grateful for helpful suggestions on how to cut through tree roots so I can plant some flowers, etc. I've got a reciprocating saw that works some, and have tried a hatchet, but with the roots so full of water, the hatchet just bounced off them! I've read shovels with "teeth" don't really work slicing through roots. Let me hear from the landscapers out there! Thanks.

Answer 1

be sure to come back and let us know how much of the tree dies after you are done 'slicing thru roots'..... or let us know how strong the winds were that blew it over since it didn't have any roots on that side to hold it in the ground good.... oh, and don't forget to come tell us about how the flowers didn't grow because the 'other' roots and the ones that grew new feeder roots took all the water and food from the flowers....

you don't do this to a tree.... if you plant at all within it's root zone, you poke around and find 'holes' between roots where you can put a hosta or azalea or other shade plant....

havent' you ever noticed how construction goes AROUND a tree to avoid cutting into it's roots?... or so that heavy equipment doesn't run over them and compact the soil they're in?.... guess why.....

Answer 2

I have been landscaping my yard as a hobby, recently moving on to my daughters school. I have run into this problem in both places. I water the soil as much as possible to loosen everything up. I dig as far as I can go, hacking away with a shovel till I hit a root over 1/2 inch (the shovel will not cut those), then I get out my limb clippers, or I call it my lopper, (a long handled pruning scissor - the handle is about 2 or 3 feet long) and I cut the root, I then will tug it out of the ground as far as it will go and cut the other end. I will usually only dig a 10 gallon pot hole size, place a 10 gallon pot without a base in there to prevent the roots from re-growing anytime soon, and fill it with some good enriched soil and chicken manure mix. I have planted a vegetable garden this way. When my vegis needed more sun I just lopped off the tops of the trees and saved the long branches for roasting marshmellows on my next camping trip. Seems to have worked pretty good over the past 3 years, the trees always grow back more fully, and the garden is pretty happy. I would like to use a larger or longer size pot but the soil is clay, and the roots from the tree are really hard to get out. On one of the holes I paid the kid who always wants to mow my lawn. He dug the hole and earned $10 so we both went away happy.

Answer 3

I always use an ax to take out stumps and cut through roots.  It works as long as the blade is sharp.

Answer 4

Try adding soil... plant something with a shallow or creeping root system.  Annuals or Ivy are good plants.

Cutting through the roots is a tedious task and is kind of like "peeing in the wind."  Your best bet is to accept that the tree roots, are where they are, and work around them.

Answer 5

use a sharp ax and a pair of long handle pruners .