Finally getting around to removing a shrubby tree that popped up in our backyard and found that it has these large 3-in diameter roots extending from a neighbor's tree. Any tips for dealing with this? I'd prefer not to use chemicals and want to hurt the tree as little as possible.
Would cutting the root near the fence and digging up the rest work or would it grow back fairly quickly? I'm not overly bothered by having to dig up more lawn as we are redoing this area anyways.
by hobofreddy55
33 Comments
tree should be fine. cut the root.
Sawzall with a pruning blade
Sawzall with a wood or heavy demo blade, don’t be afraid or cutting through the dirt
A saw is fine
I have a dealt 5 inch chain saw, just for things like this
Recip
So depending on the tree, its my understanding that most well established trees in their adulthood can handle anywhere between 8 and 10% root pruning. Its a rule I’ve lived by and I’ve never outright destroyed a tree from the roots up by adhering to it. Im curious to see if an arbirisg can come and confirm or deny this metric I’ve been using all these years.
Sawzall.
I’d cut it near the fence and pull up as much as you can on your end but I think end near the fence will sprout again, look into wrapping it with weed barrier or something similar
Cut it out with a reciprocating saw. Spray the cut ends on your side with a little Crossbow so the whole root gets killed. Do not paint the neighbors side with crossbow or you’ll kill their tree.
Ditch witch.
My dad used to use 🪓 his axe. I suspect it helped him burn off some energy. 😆
Chain and truck 😉
‘look around you, can you construct some sort of rudimentary lathe?’ or use a sawzall with a wood cutting / pruning blade
No need to go out and buy a reciprocating saw as others suggest. A strong pair of loppers should be fine. You can also use an axe, though roots are very bouncy and can absorb a surprising amount of damage.
If you cut it back to the fenceline, dont go all the way to the fence. Leave a foot or so in your yard. Otherwise when it sprouts it will be right up against the fence and hard to deal with.
I know you don’t want to hurt the tree but a half dozen pure copper nails into that root from the cut end will stop it from sprouting and should be far enough from the tree not to kill it.
I would consult the arborist sub rather than this one. Or even an actual arborist. That’s a large root and just based on this photo alone no one here can tell you if it’s safe for the tree or not.
wood bit drill / go to town
Yeah you want to go closer to the fence. You can cut that root out and the tree will be ok.
You also want to tell your neighbor what you’re doing before you do it and assure them there won’t be any issues. Send them some info if necessary about the tree and root cutting.
Sometimes more than 1/2 of my work day is spent dealing with two neighbors who can’t stand each other and it usually stems (haha tree word play) from these kind of small things that become HUGE things due to non communication.
Rent a beaver
Grab a mattock axe from a hardware store and chop it close to the fence. Rip the rest of the root out moving away from the fence, taking as many shoots out as possible. I’d even trench the root out. Remove that stump with the mattock. Rip it out, using a sawzall etc is just motorized pruning aka more growth.
Yes it’s difficult. No it won’t take all day.
Offer your neighbor beer or weed or food and talk about pruning his root system away from your fence, you’ll pay them half the cost of the job. They pick the company.
That’s how you solve the root in your yard and the problem too.
I was a landscaper for 8 years and was in college for horticulture during 4 of those first years.
Doing it the simplest way is always the most effective. Chemicals etc just complicate the problem since it costs more, more frequently. Chemicals also take time to work. Chemicals would go back to your neighbors mother tree and that’s not cool. Chemicals would leave a giant root in your yard that would probably upset you a few times for the decades it takes to decay.
Be a man. Get big stick out yard, make friend.
I suggest you do some research. Some trees do not take kindly to having such a large root cut out. That could be a main source of its support system.
Saw
Slice and dice that bad boy up !!
Pickaxe is my go to for this sort of thing
Those bug roots are more stabilizing then feeding. The little roots feed much more. Chop it she’ll be fine.
Chain saw
Saw
My yard guy cuts it with a saw then rubs motor oil on the end. Maybe it works. Maybe it kills the tree
Reciprocating saw
I have a specific axe i used for chopping roots in the ground to prevent ruining other tools
That’s a big root for a little man just cut it 2-3feet from stump if trying to save it
Do you really need to remove it?