Tree roots, grrrrrrr.

There is a tree which is in our neighbours garden (only just) and the roots are quite close to the soil surface. There are now shoots coming off the roots growing though our soil. Does anyone have any tips on how to stop this happening, any advice greatly appreciated.

 

Depends on how big the tree is. If it's not a mature oak (for example), dig the soil away from the roots and then saw through them. The roots should rot away, but that might depend on what type of tree it is. If it's one that suckers they will grow on as independent trees. Worth a try anyway.

 

I'll take a photo of the offending tree when it is light, it seems to be quite a young tree, maybe a wild cherry (or gean as we call them up here) tree. The off shoots seem to be pretty rampant.

 

Sounds like a prunus all right - cherry or plum, well known for suckering. All you can do as far as I am aware, is rip the sucker away from the root - and I mean rip, rather than cut with secateurs. Less chance of regrowth with that method.

 

I hope its not a Rhus, they just love to sucker under fences!

 

Here is a photograph of the offending tree.

and a close up....

and the little suckers which are everywhere in the front garden


Grrrrrr.

 

Looks like cherry to me. Hoe off the suckers and legally you are allowed to cut off any branches that overhang your property. If you are bold, you could excavate the main roots below the trunk and saw through them just as you would cut back the branches. Do you object to the tree itself or just its suckers? If you can live with the tree then just hoe, cut or pull off the suckers. You'll never get the roots up anyway. If I was wicked, I might suggest ring barking the tree and blaming it on the squirrels. But I'm not wicked so I won't