Trees are amazing, and necessary to sustain life. However, sometimes they just need to go. Whether you’re doing professional landscaping, fixing up your backyard, or other work where a tree is in your way, we can teach you how to kill tree roots. Before you start be aware that you will have to kill the tree to kill the tree roots. In some situations this is unavoidable, such as when trees are to close to power lines, phone lines, and/or sidewalks. However there are also times that the trees themselves need to be cut down, leaving you with roots that need to be destroyed. When researching how to kill tree roots, I also realized many people have issues with roots from living trees rising above the surface, and causing problems in their yards, sidewalks, or driveways. Whatever the case, you can learn how to kill tree roots!
How to Kill Tree Roots: What Most People Don’t Know
Can You Dig It?
This is perhaps the simplest, and easiest way when learning how to kill tree roots. However is it usually only effective if the tree is on the small-medium end of the size spectrum. Simply create a trench around the stump and roots. When you get far enough, and the roots become skinny enough, chop or cut them off. When I was teaching my neighbor how to kill tree roots, this was the way I told him to do one of the smaller trees in his yard.
Burn ‘em!
A cheap, and effective method for killing tree roots is to burn them. Just be sure that you won’t damage vegetation or property around the tree roots. When I was teaching my friend how to kill tree roots, I just told him to create a barrier around the roots with rocks, and pound a few holes along the biggest parts of the roots. Then pour a bit of fire accelerant in those hole, and light away. Those roots will be outta there in no time.
Chemical Killers
A very effective way of killing tree roots is with chemical products. For this method you will drill holes in the stump, and roots. Then use a product like Bonide 274 8 oz Stump-Out Stump & Vine Killer Concentrate found on Amazon for about 10 bucks. Put it in the holes you drilled. While this method does use harsh chemicals, it is very effective. For those wondering how to kill tree roots, and kill them quickly, this method might be the way to go.
Salt. Yes, Salt.
When researching how to kill tree roots, I also discovered gardeners expressing success stories about using salt. They simply pour salt on the stump, roots, and ground around them. In no time you will be able to get rid of those pesky roots!
Alternative Methods
When learning how to kill tree roots, it’s important to understand that in many cases, the roots will be too large, or time consuming to get out on your own. In these situations, it may be necessary to get help. Using a backhoe, or mini excavator can work great for killing tree roots. This type of equipment can pull out the stumps and roots with ease. There are companies that you can hire to come do this for you, or you can rent this type of equipment from equipment rental companies. Renting, of course, requires you to use the equipment yourself. However, the upside is that it should be much cheaper then hiring a company to come out.
I hope this article on how to kill tree roots has helped teach you what you need to know to be successful killing tree roots. Find articles on killing weeds, bugs, rodents, and almost anything else you can think of at how to kill stuff!