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the essentials in brief

• Good methods for removing Tree roots are digging, milling, composting and letting die.
• Extra-long roots can be shortened from a safety distance to the tree that corresponds to 8 times the trunk diameter.
• Specialized companies dispose of large tree roots in green waste containers. Small tree roots accept composting plants.

How do you remove tree roots? - Options at a glance

Felling trees is just the prologue to removing a tree from the garden. The remaining stump with its expansive long tree roots represents the real challenge. In fact, the natural decomposition process in wood can take up to 10 years. During this time, tree roots continue to grow and cause serious damage. Create flower beds or

Burning out is not recommended when removing tree roots. This method harbors numerous risks for people, animals and nature. With a drilling machine,(€ 90.99 at Amazon *)saw or ax, the wood is opened to the ground in several places. A special mixture of petroleum and saltpeter is filled into the crevices or holes. This paste is ignited so that the stump and roots burn out from the inside out. With this method, which is harmful to the climate and the environment, there is a risk that the fire will continue to burn in an uncontrolled manner as a smoldering fire underground. Furthermore, the charred wooden parts do not rot or only very slowly.

The following video provides a compact overview of best practices on how to remove tree roots correctly:

Remove tree roots manually - step-by-step instructions

Tree roots with a stump up to 30 centimeters in diameter can be removed by hand. The necessary tools are part of the standard equipment in the hobby garden. The following instructions explain step by step how you can skillfully remove tree roots with a good portion of muscle lard:

Tool and material requirements

• sharp spade
• Water hose or pressure washer
• Ax or root saw
• Winch, pulley system or jack
• working gloves

Step-by-step instructions

1. Chop down a tree to a stump that is 1.50 m high
2. with spade and a sharp jet of water expose all tree roots
3. Cut through fine roots while digging
4. Use an ax or a root saw to cut thick tree roots
5. Move the tree stump back and forth with both hands
6. Use a winch, pulley system or jack to lift the stump out of the ground
7. Dig up remaining pieces of tree roots
8. Fill the bottom hole with a mixture of Topsoil and compost

If you have a milling machine, you can alternatively shred the tree stump and the tree roots without digging on site. The practical device for removing tree roots is simply attached and instantly transforms the wood into Mulch.(€ 239.00 at Amazon *) Because the investment in an expensive stump grinder is not worthwhile for hobby gardeners, numerous machine lenders offer the equipment for rent at a low daily rate.

Removing a tree root manually is an exhausting task

Let tree roots die off

Do you hate exhausting excavation work? Alternatively, with a lot of patience and the right remedy, you can let tree roots die off. The following two methods work without chemical poison and have proven themselves excellently in the hobby garden:

Accelerate decomposition - compost tree roots

You saw off the tree stump directly above the ground. Take a chainsaw and cut into the stump like a chessboard. At the tree roots you drill deep holes in the wood with a wood drill in several places. Fill the openings with fresh compost. Fungal spores and microorganisms contained in it immediately get to work and decompose the wood. The addition of Compost accelerator works wonders and supplies the busy microorganisms with new energy.

Destroy tree roots with salt

Tree roots have an aversion to certain types of salt. Epsom salt, also known as epsomite, and rock salt dissolve wood into its components in no time at all. So that the salt can develop its destructive effect, drill holes in the tree roots at a distance of 1-2 centimeters that reach the ground. Fill the openings two-thirds full with the salt. Then seal the drill holes with liquid candle wax. Cover the tree roots and tree stump with a black tarpaulin, this will accelerate the decomposition process even more.

Shorten problem roots

Stubborn roots can be trimmed in the ground

Sometimes damage is caused by isolated, overly long root strands. Most of the time, tree roots push up the pavement of paths and surfaces, creating dangerous tripping hazards. In this case, the entire tree with stump and roots does not have to give way. It is enough to shorten the roots of the problem. The best tool is a special saw for tree roots, which you can buy in specialist shops with and without an electric drive. A proven rule of thumb shows the distance to the trunk at which you can cut a problem root. The following brief instructions explain how to cut a tree root correctly:

Apply rule of thumb

1. Place a folding rule at the tree root
2. Rule of thumb: trunk diameter x 8 = minimum distance from the interface to the trunk
3. Mark the interface

Please note: A tree is doomed if it loses more than a quarter of its root mass in one fell swoop.

Shorten the tree roots

1. Expose the tree root with a spade
2. measured root strand with a root saw or Loppers cut off
3. Process and smooth the cut with a sharp knife (please disinfect the blade in advance)
4. treat damaged tree roots
5. Cover the exposed root strand, ideally with a ripe, sifted one Compost soil and pour

Treat damaged tree roots with a wound closure agent, also known as Tree wax.(€ 18.62 at Amazon *) This follow-up treatment is advisable from a diameter of 2 centimeters to support the healing process. It is important to note that you only coat the wound edges with the agent and leave the center of the cut untreated.

Disposing of tree roots - tips & tricks

Large tree roots take up a lot of storage space in the garden that is not available for beds and seats. If you don't want to wait for the root remains to dissolve by themselves, you can choose from these disposal options:

• Hire a specialist company for the delivery and removal of a green waste container
• Chop or chop tree roots and transport them to the composting plant with your own trailer
• Local forest rangers ask for a place where deadwood is allowed to be deposited

As long as you take care of the disposal yourself, there are little or no costs. If, on the other hand, you have a green waste container transported to and from the specialist company, disposal costs averaging 200 euros for a 3 cubic meter container.

Digression

Taboo in the natural garden - chemical agents

Decorate tree roots instead of throwing them away

A tree stump can also be planted decoratively

Creative hobby gardeners do not buy expensive decorative tree roots. From your imaginative perspective, disused tree roots become representative planters with natural charm. The following ideas may inspire you to create floral root art in the garden:

• Place the planter with the seasonal flowers on the tree stump
• Decorate tree roots with succulents, evergreens, ivy or nasturtiums
• Hollow out tree stump and thick roots, Potting soil fill in and Geraniums, Petunias or Tagetes plants

Instead of removing tree roots in the lawn, make a virtue of necessity and plant the root strands with grass. To do this, cover the roots with a 10 centimeter layer of compost and sand. Lay or sow pieces of turf over it Lawn seeds the end.

frequently asked Questions

Can you remove tree roots with salt?

Yes, you can do that with Epsom salt or rock salt. Drill holes 1 to 2 centimeters apart in the tree roots that reach the ground. Fill the openings two-thirds full with salt. Then seal the holes, for example with liquid wax. By additionally covering the root strands with dark foil, you can additionally accelerate the decomposition process in the wood. Incidentally, normal table salt is not suitable for causing tree roots to die off.

How do tree roots rot faster?

With the help of Compost accelerator tree roots rot faster

Microorganisms and fungi provide valuable protection to ensure that tree roots rot faster. Open the wood to the floor in several places. Fill the openings with a mixture of half-rotted compost and compost accelerator. Every spring you freshen up the organic filling until the tree roots have dissolved in pleasure.

Who removes tree roots? What costs are to be expected for the removal?

Specialists in horticulture and landscaping have the necessary know-how and adequate machinery to properly remove tree roots. On average, an hourly rate of 90 to 110 euros can be expected. Usually around 50 euros are charged for arrival and departure. Milling with a stump grinder removes a normal-sized tree stump with roots within 60 minutes, so that the work costs around 140 to 160 euros. Excavation with a mini excavator is done within 45 minutes, but costs 170 to 210 euros because the stump and tree roots have to be disposed of afterwards.

Tips

Deadwood is a source of life. This also applies to discarded tree roots. Thick, long root strands are perfect as a soil layer for a Deadwood hedge. If you have a raised bed Compost soil when filling, shredded tree roots prevent the formation of waterlogging as the first filling stage.