Content

• Method 2 of 5: How to Remove Roots from Sewer Pipes
• Method 3 of 5: How to physically remove a stump or tree
• Method 4 of 5: How to Treat Stump with Herbicides
• Method 5 of 5: How to apply herbicides to the trunk
• Tips
• Warnings

1 Trim small problematic roots. Although it is time consuming, this way you will not damage the neighboring plants. Dig up the roots and trim them with a saw or lopper. Pruning roots can damage the tree and eventually lead to its death. To avoid this, adhere to the following rules:

• multiply the diameter of the tree by eight. As a result, you will get the minimum distance from the trunk at which you can cut the roots without the risk of causing serious damage to the tree;
• Cut roots only on one side of the tree, especially if there is a risk of cutting them too close to the trunk.

2 Dig a moat to isolate the roots. Root pruning is a temporary measure. To limit root overgrowth, you can dig a moat once a year (or once every six months if the roots are growing very quickly) and cut the roots. This can be avoided by digging a ditch deep enough (preferably through the entire topsoil) and installing one of the barriers below, then backfilling with earth.

• Galvanized sheet metal. Fold the sheet over to avoid scratching on sharp edges.
• Double layer of HDPE - To prevent roots from growing through the barrier, the PE sheets must overlap each other by at least 30 centimeters. Sometimes you can get it for free at grocery stores.
• It is best to purchase a herbicide-treated barrier film to limit root growth. Trifluralin is often used, which does not harm neighboring plants.

3 Destroy shoots with herbicides. Some trees will sprout new root shoots in response to pruning or root damage. To selectively destroy such shoots, cut them off - in this case, the herbicide will not penetrate the tree. Gently spray the shoots with glyphosate or triclopyr herbicide so as not to hurt nearby plants. Many plants produce large numbers of root shoots. If you want to preserve the tree, you may have to tackle the roots several times, or periodically dig out the shoots by hand.

• If shoots reappear after pruning, you may need to use a broadleaf weed control herbicide. Such a herbicide will destroy all plants in a specific area. Apply the herbicide until the shoots are dry.

4 Replace damaged sidewalk with rubble or mulch. It may be that you cannot get rid of large surface roots without destroying the entire tree. If you do not want to lose the tree, you can restrict its growth with a suitable barrier. However, in this way you will not destroy the roots, and they can grow further or penetrate into the sewer pipes.

• Carefully remove the damaged asphalt and be careful not to damage the roots.
• Cover the ground with geotextile fabric. Leave 15 centimeters of free space around the trunk, or 30 centimeters for a larger tree.
• Sprinkle the soil with a layer of rubble 7.5–10 centimeters thick or a layer of coarse mulch 15–20 centimeters thick. Mulch is less effective and can be washed away by rain.
• Secure the edges of the canvas with stones to prevent it from being blown away by the wind.

Method 2 of 5: How to Remove Roots from Sewer Pipes

1. 1 Fill the toilet with copper sulfate or rock salt. This is the easiest method, but it can kill the tree and surrounding plants. Put copper sulfate or rock salt in the toilet (but not in the sink or shower) in portions of no more than ¼ kilogram, for a total of 0.9 kilograms. Do not drain the water for 8-12 hours so that the salt has time to destroy the roots. Follow the safety instructions on the packaging.
   Both chemicals have the potential to harm aquatic plants and animals. Their use may be restricted by local laws, especially if you live near a wastewater treatment plant.
2. 2 Spray the pipes with a herbicide spray. The herbicide spray is convenient for cleaning pipes: it fills and kills the roots, and then disintegrates after a while. Contact herbicides kill the roots quickly, while systemic herbicides can take a couple of weeks to kill the entire tree. Aerosols of different densities are suitable for pipes of different diameters, so please read the attached instructions before purchasing.
   • Some herbicides are toxic to fish and other wildlife. Read the instructions for your herbicide and find out how you can reduce environmental damage.
   • For best results, hire a plumber to treat the pipes with Sodium Methane. Handling this corrosive substance requires special training and equipment.
3. 3 Ask a plumber to mechanically clean the pipes. If the roots are completely clogged in the pipe, the cleaning solution will not be able to penetrate it. The plumber will be able to clean the pipes using special equipment. Among other things, this will prevent the pollution of the environment with herbicides.
4. 4 Fix the pipes. If you do not want to regularly remove roots from sewer pipes, the cleaned pipe needs structural repairs to prevent further root growth. While lining existing pipes saves on digging and drainage costs, a complete pipe replacement is often cheaper.
   • It may also be necessary to remove or replant large trees that grow near the sewer, otherwise their roots can penetrate the pipes.

Method 3 of 5: How to physically remove a stump or tree

1. 1 First, take a close look at the tree. Some tree species are capable of producing root shoots, from which a new one then grows at some distance from the old trunk. If you remove the trunk of such a tree and leave roots in the ground, they may even grow into a new tree, so this method is not suitable for such trees. Here is an incomplete list of trees that can shoot root shoots:
   • elm, cherry, plum and lilac can regrow from the roots after the trunk is damaged. Use herbicides to get rid of these tree species;
   • aspen, poplar, sumac and acacia form "clonal colonies" of many trunks during normal growth. Their roots are very difficult to destroy, even with herbicides. Contact your local gardening community for advice on the right herbicide.
2. 2 Cut the trunk of the tree. If you need to remove a tree, cut its trunk so that a stump remains 0.9-1.2 meters high. In this case, you will have something to grasp to pull the trunk out of the ground.
   A warning: Cutting down trees is a very dangerous activity. If you don't have the experience and the right tools, the tree may fall in the wrong direction. If you've never cut trees before, hire a specialist.
3. 3 Dig a tree stump. Dig around the stump with a shovel, hoe, crowbar, or excavator. Chop off the largest roots with an ax or cut them off with a saw. Dig a hole with a radius of about 1.2 meters or wider around the tree stump so that the main roots can be removed from the ground.
   • Place a board underneath before cutting the root with the chainsaw. This will protect the chainsaw from dirt and stones.
   • After you dig the hole, spray the ground with a strong jet of water from a garden hose or high pressure spray to expose more roots.
4. 4 Attach a winch to the stump. Stumps usually sit firmly in the ground, especially if the tree has been recently cut down and cannot be removed from the ground with bare hands. Attach a hand winch to the stump and attach it to a sturdy tree or truck.
5. 5 Pull out the stump carefully with a winch. Even if you are using a hand winch, the tree stump can be violently thrown out of the ground. To prevent this from happening, pull out the stump with slow, short jerks. If using a truck, tighten and loosen the winch alternately. It is best if the stump gradually crawls out of the ground and falls on its side.
6. 6 Grind off the stump if necessary. Sometimes a large tree stump cannot be uprooted even with a winch. In this case, you will have to rent a stump grinder (or resort to the help of a specialist). This is a rather dangerous machine and safety goggles should be worn when working on it. Also, ask your rental agent to show you how to use the stump grinder. The following basic rules must be observed:
   • clear the ground around the stump of stones so that they do not damage the chopper disc;
   • place the milling disc 5–10 centimeters above the leading edge of the stump;
   • turn on the rotation of the disk and slowly lower it so that it bites into the stump by about 7–8 centimeters;
   • move the disc slowly from side to side so that you sand off about 10 centimeters of the wood. Move the disc and sand the next section of the stump;
   • continue to grind the stump until its top edge is at least 20-25 centimeters below ground level, or deeper if you plan to plant a new tree in this place.
7. 7 Fill up the hole. Pull out the remaining roots and fill the hole left after the stump with earth. Pour grass seeds over the ground and water them. As a result, you will get a piece of land free from trees. The roots of the tree will stop growing and will die off over time.

Method 4 of 5: How to Treat Stump with Herbicides

1. 1 Consider the possible risks. The roots of trees of the same species growing side by side are often intertwined. This means that if you spray one beech with herbicide, the poison can spread through the root system and destroy adjacent beech trees. The likelihood of this increases in the case of those trees that are capable of forming "clonal colonies" (these include, in particular, aspen and white acacia).
2. 2 Choose a herbicide. For tree control, glyphosate and triclopyr herbicides are available from your garden supply store. Different herbicides may be required to kill different types of trees. For example, glyphosate is more effective on narrow-leaved oak, and triclopyr is better for processing acacia, maple, oak and willow.
   • Triclopir works at a concentration of 8.8%. If you are using glyphosate, try to find a product with a concentration of about 40% and dilute it with an equal amount of water. If you cannot find a 40% solution, use an undiluted solution with a concentration of at least 20%.
   • It is risky to use herbicides with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, dicamba or picloram, as they can spread to neighboring plants and destroy them, which can be avoided with careful use of glyphosate and triclopyr.
3. 3 Use protective equipment. Follow the instructions supplied with the herbicide to avoid exposure to harmful substances. At a minimum, you should wear long-sleeved and long-leg clothing, closed shoes, latex or nitrile gloves, and safety goggles. Use old clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.
   • There is no need to wear a face shield as you will not be spraying the herbicide in the air.
4. 4 Apply the herbicide to the tree stump. This will prevent root overgrowth and new root shoots after you cut the tree. To do this, you need a relatively fresh cut of the tree, and if you cut it down a few weeks ago, it is best to re-cut the stump:
   • cut the trunk close to the ground. Try to trim the tree stump so that you have a flat, horizontal surface so that the herbicides do not run off into the ground. After that, clean the stump from sawdust;
   • take an old paint brush and apply the herbicide to the rings under the bark. It is there that the living tissues are located, through which the herbicide seeps to the roots of the tree;
   • Take your used brush and herbicide container to a hazardous waste disposal site.

Method 5 of 5: How to apply herbicides to the trunk

1. 1 Kill the tree with herbicides. This is easier than uprooting a tree, although herbicides can harm the environment if dead branches fall on the road. In addition, herbicides may not work in the spring when the trees are producing a lot of sap that will force them out. If these factors are not present, cut the tree down and apply a herbicide to the tree stump. Proceed as follows:
   • cut a wedge-shaped notch in the trunk at an angle of 45º downward;
   • insert the narrow nozzle of the herbicide bottle directly into the notch and squeeze out some herbicide. Be careful not to spill liquid outside the incision;
   • read the herbicide usage guide. Find out how many cuts to make and how much herbicide to inject into each cut (usually no more than one milliliter);
   • to kill some too stubborn trees, it is necessary to remove the bark from the trunk and apply herbicide to the exposed wood.
2. 2 Remove dead wood. After a few days or weeks, the branches of the tree will begin to dry out and fall off. Remove fallen branches.
   • Some trees or roots may need to be sprayed with the herbicide several times to properly penetrate the trunk and root system. If the tree survives after the first application of the herbicide, carefully read the directions for use - it is possible that this herbicide should be applied several times. Apply the herbicide to freshly cleaned wood every time.
3. 3 Remove the stump. After the tree dies, dig up the stump with a shovel or excavator.Note that it can take years for a tree to die naturally, so it is sometimes best to speed things up. Try to completely remove the tree stump so that the roots do not regrow.

Tips

• For a tree to stay healthy, it needs a balance between crown and roots. If you cut the roots near the trunk (at a distance of 5-10 centimeters), it will destroy up to a quarter of the entire root system, so destruction of the roots usually leads to the death of the entire tree.
• Before planting trees, familiarize yourself with the different species that grow in your area to avoid root problems later on. In doing so, focus on their root systems. Some tree species, such as figs and maples, have developed root systems and are not recommended to be planted near the house and garden paths.
• There are various ways to get rid of a tree or stump, but many of them are too slow and ineffective for killing the roots:
  • banding, or cutting off the bark from the trunk, as a result of which the flow of nutrients from the leaves to the roots is interrupted. If this method is not combined with herbicide treatment, the destruction of the tree can take years;
  • dusting the roots around the trunk with mulch suppresses them, but it can take years to destroy the tree;
  • Burning out a tree stump or sprinkling it with compost or fertilizer also takes a long time. For example, it takes longer to burn out a stump than some other methods, because then you have to wait until the stump is dry.

Warnings

• Some gardeners recommend sprinkling the soil with salt to kill roots, but this can kill nearby plants and cause groundwater pollution.
• After removing large roots, the tree may fall in strong winds.
• Herbicides, especially in concentrated form, can damage the skin and lungs. If the herbicide comes into contact with the body, follow the safety instructions that came with it.
• Rain may wash off the herbicide for the first six hours after application.