Digging and Cutting Tree Roots

Preparation

• First, you’ll need to clear the area of any and all debris such as limbs, rocks and other plant life. This helps you gain access to the whole perimeter of the root system at once to make the job a little easier. For safety’s sake, call your local utilities company to find out if there’s any buried cable on your property and, if so, its proximity to the tree in question. This helps you determine how far out and how deep you can safely dig. Once everything’s in place, the next step is cut the tree to about waist height using a chainsaw or a handsaw. Clear everyone out of the way if the tree is tall enough to fall over and potentially hurt someone. After its cut, haul it out of the way to deal with the stump and roots.

Digging and Cutting

• Depending on the circumference of the stump, measure out from its base and dig a small trench in the soil. The best tools for the job are either a pointed-end shovel or a nursery spade. Dig deep enough to make contact with the roots. Follow along the tree’s perimeter, digging a trench to expose the roots then dig underneath the stump to expose the roots’ attachment points. The goal is expose the roots far enough away from the stump so that when the roots are severed, further growth is inhibited.

Removal

• Saw through as many roots as you can, specifically the thickest ones you see. After all the visible roots are cut, you have a choice: either wrap tow chain around the stump and haul it out with a tractor or sufficiently heavy duty pickup truck or if you have a tractor, a bladed attachment on front of the tractor can push the stump out of the ground. These are often available for rent at many home improvement and hardware stores. Once you’ve dug and cut the roots and the stump is out of the ground, steps must be taken to prevent the tree from taking root again.

Precautions

• A mixture of 1 part salt to 2 parts hot water is one way to kill off the roots and prevent growth. You’ll need to saturate the soil with plenty of this saltwater mixture to do so, but only pour the mix directly over the hole where the stump once rested; additional plants in the area, such as grass or flowers, are negatively affected by the salt. You’ll also need to repeat saturation over a few days to ensure the roots don’t start growing back.