When you look at your yard, what do you discover? Most of us want to see a flourishing, green location without many interruptions and without any roots. (Of course, we similarly want to see grass that hasn’t grown at all since we last cut it, but the sad thing is that isn’t a reality.) What is a possibility, however, is the fact that you can help prevent tree roots from taking over your lawn. Although you can’t (and should never) stop some roots from growing, you don’t want them to entirely take over your yard.
4. Be Gentle – Don’t Cut Them Out
- Many trees don’t respond well to easy fix tactics
- Only use qualified professional grade instruments to remove roots
- Connect with an expert before cutting too close to tree
One of the most vital things that you need to recognize about tree roots is that they are sturdy, but they are also the main source of nutrition for the tree. This signifies that you cannot simply cut the roots off and wish for the best. This will result in a tree that may not get ample water and nutrition, or it just may end up being unsteady. Think of it like cutting off the leg of a table – it might still stand, but it isn’t a good table anymore.
Gardens Alive explains, “Big trees have big, efficient roots that tend to take all the water in the area for themselves; and feeding a lawn overtop of those roots is perhaps the perfect way to deliver most of the food to the trees instead of the lawn.”
You may just have to recognize that if you want a bigger tree that supplies shade, you are going to have a few roots that move out into your grass. With professional help, they can be cut a little bit – it is really something that goes tree by tree.
3. Make Sure They Aren’t Taking Root
- Sprouts can often times look like roots
- These are fine to eliminate
- Cut deliberately around actual roots
If you see something that comes up directly from the roots and you believe it is just roots that have lost their direction, you may be wrong. These could be sprouts that will sooner or later turn into tinier, weaker trees. These are dangerous and can be extremely bad for your healthy tree. They will battle with the tree’s existing root system and make the roots to come out of the ground, transfer into your lawn even more, and can even entirely cut them off from source of nourishment.
According to Home Guides, you just have to make sure that you are getting rid of the sprouts in a way that is harmless and smart. You don’t want to poison your tree, nor do you want to injure it any more than it is already injured. They say: “Treating a sucker growing out of a tree’s root system with herbicides can injure the tree. However, some commercially available products may specify that they are able to control suckering or are suitable for treatment of sprouts growing a minimum distance away from the parent tree.”
2. Consider Additional Approaches
- All-natural techniques can be an alternative for some trees.
- You may take into consideration rock salt or oils.
- These options take much longer but don’t hurt your yard.
Most people want to stay clear of using harsher chemical substance in their yards, specifically close to their lawns. Using a rough chemical to kill the roots of a tree will only serve to make your yard look worse because of the dead grass. If you are stressed enough about the roots that you want to do away with them, skip the chemicals and talk to a specialist.
One choice, per Bob Villa, is to apply rock salt to dehydrate the roots slowly and gradually. This strategy does take quite some time, and you have to be extra mindful if you have pets, but it can work. The salt mixture has to sit on the trees for a while, so you may want to invest in a dog barricade if you like to give your dog roam of the yard.
1. Put the Health of Your Tree As the Top Worry
- Older trees may become unsteady if roots are removed.
- Youthful trees may still need to be re-tied in order to be sturdy.
- Make sure to add added support for some time.
If you decide that, even though it may not be the best for the tree, you want to do away with the roots after all, you ought to know one thing: your tree will be unsteady after you cut the roots off. Just simply cutting off the roots is not the conclusion of the job – in fact, it is just the start. You have to monitor your trees and make sure that they are healthy enough to survive without your support. If you think they require help, give it to them.
Nevertheless, one more word of premonition from the Georgia Forestry Commission: “Understory planting of ground covers or foundation plants is not a solution. Covering the roots with a foot of soil is also not a solution.”
If you still do it, make sure to regularly take a look at the leaves and trunk of the tree in case problems start to show up. You need to be mindful of pests, ailments, and any breaks that occur.
At Econo Tree Service, our principal concern is keeping your trees (and roots) as healthy as possible for as long as possible. While it is natural to find some roots in your yard or in the flower beds, you don’t really want them to take up too much of your yard, or you will start to have complications with upkeep. If something seems off or like it isn’t working properly, you need to get into contact with our Redwood City tree care specialists.
Give us a call today at (650) 200-2495 and our professionals will pay you (and your trees) a visit and help to determine if removing your roots is an option.