Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Cut a Root to a Tree
How to Cut a Root to a Tree. Tree roots can become a problem when they grow under sidewalks, driveways or near septic systems. Sometimes tree roots even wrap around the tree trunk, known as girdling, and kill the tree. An effective way to stop damage from the tree root is to cut it off from the tree, which stops the flow of nutrients. However, you...
Tree roots can become a problem when they grow under sidewalks, driveways or near septic systems. Sometimes tree roots even wrap around the tree trunk, known as girdling, and kill the tree. An effective way to stop damage from the tree root is to cut it off from the tree, which stops the flow of nutrients. However, you must use the proper cutting technique or the entire tree will die.
Things You'll Need
Tape measure
Shovel
Bow saw
Wrap a tape measure around the trunk of the tree approximately 4 1/2 feet above the ground and make a note of the measurement in inches.
Multiply the number you measured by 6 to arrive at the total number of feet away from the tree you should cut. For example, if the trunk diameter is 26 inches, multiply it by 6 to arrive at 156 inches. Divide 156 by 12 to arrive at 13 feet away from the tree.
Place the end of the tape measure on the ground at the base of the tree trunk. Measure out to the number of feet you calculated.
Dig down until you reach the root if it is underground. If the root is on the surface of the soil, digging is not required.
Cut through the root from the top using a bow saw until you have completely severed the root in two pieces. Make the cut straight down and as clean as possible with no jagged edges.
Fill the hole back in with soil, if applicable.
Tips & Warnings
Do not cut more than two tree roots or you may kill the tree.
