A gardening DIY question
 

Q 1 In next doors garden, right at the left hand side, at the bottom, is
a tree, whose roots are pushing up the final 2 paving slabs of the path
that runs to our back gate.

If I lift the paving, how can I cut back the roots to let the paving
down a few inches to allow me to open the gate? I have already taken
about 3 to 4 inches off the wooden gate.

Q 2 A similar problem, I have had some of those dreaded Leylandii cut
down earlier this year and there are stumps about 2 to 3 inches sticking
out of the ground (about 4 inches in diameter.) How can I cut these
down, or should I just put a membrane down with pebbles on top to match
the rest of the garden and let nature take its course?

Dave

A gardening DIY question
 

Dave wrote:
Q 1 In next doors garden, right at the left hand side, at the bottom,
is a tree, whose roots are pushing up the final 2 paving slabs of the
path that runs to our back gate.

If I lift the paving, how can I cut back the roots to let the paving
down a few inches to allow me to open the gate? I have already taken
about 3 to 4 inches off the wooden gate.

I usually use a decent spade and a little effort.

Q 2 A similar problem, I have had some of those dreaded Leylandii cut
down earlier this year and there are stumps about 2 to 3 inches
sticking out of the ground (about 4 inches in diameter.) How can I
cut these down, or should I just put a membrane down with pebbles on
top to match the rest of the garden and let nature take its course?

Dave

To speed up the natural rotting process drill down into the
stumps with a large drill bit, water will collect and hasten the job.
I did this when I moved into my present address, 12 months later
the stumps either crumbled or lifted with ease.



--
Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you
realise you're wrong.

A gardening DIY question
 

Dave wrote:
Q 1 In next doors garden, right at the left hand side, at the bottom,
is a tree, whose roots are pushing up the final 2 paving slabs of the
path that runs to our back gate.

If I lift the paving, how can I cut back the roots to let the paving
down a few inches to allow me to open the gate? I have already taken
about 3 to 4 inches off the wooden gate.



With an old saw and a sharp axe - the timber isn't very hard, although it
usually clogs up the saw after a short while because of the high moisture
content, which is where the axe comes in...



Q 2 A similar problem, I have had some of those dreaded Leylandii cut
down earlier this year and there are stumps about 2 to 3 inches
sticking out of the ground (about 4 inches in diameter.) How can I
cut these down, or should I just put a membrane down with pebbles on
top to match the rest of the garden and let nature take its course?

Dave

dig around each stump and cut off another 4 - 6 inches, then pull the soil
over and wait for nature to take it's course, or you could split them with
the axe first, which makes cutting them with the saw easier.

--
Phil L
RSRL Tipster Of The Year 2008

A gardening DIY question
 

Nitromax® wrote:
Dave wrote:
Q 1 In next doors garden, right at the left hand side, at the bottom,
is a tree, whose roots are pushing up the final 2 paving slabs of the
path that runs to our back gate.

If I lift the paving, how can I cut back the roots to let the paving
down a few inches to allow me to open the gate? I have already taken
about 3 to 4 inches off the wooden gate.

I usually use a decent spade and a little effort.

Trouble with that idea is that at my age, I don't have that much grunt
for that amount of effort. :-((
I'm looking at reducing the thickness of the roots by about 4 to 6
inches. Still, I could get the *angle grinder* out to sharpen the spade
and see what I can do. :-)

Q 2 A similar problem, I have had some of those dreaded Leylandii cut
down earlier this year and there are stumps about 2 to 3 inches
sticking out of the ground (about 4 inches in diameter.) How can I
cut these down, or should I just put a membrane down with pebbles on
top to match the rest of the garden and let nature take its course?

Dave

To speed up the natural rotting process drill down into the
stumps with a large drill bit, water will collect and hasten the job.
I did this when I moved into my present address, 12 months later
the stumps either crumbled or lifted with ease.

Thanks, I had over looked that. The man that cut them down said that
they would rot readily.

Dave

A gardening DIY question
 

Phil L wrote:
Dave wrote:
Q 1 In next doors garden, right at the left hand side, at the bottom,
is a tree, whose roots are pushing up the final 2 paving slabs of the
path that runs to our back gate.

If I lift the paving, how can I cut back the roots to let the paving
down a few inches to allow me to open the gate? I have already taken
about 3 to 4 inches off the wooden gate.



With an old saw and a sharp axe - the timber isn't very hard, although it
usually clogs up the saw after a short while because of the high moisture
content, which is where the axe comes in...



Q 2 A similar problem, I have had some of those dreaded Leylandii cut
down earlier this year and there are stumps about 2 to 3 inches
sticking out of the ground (about 4 inches in diameter.) How can I
cut these down, or should I just put a membrane down with pebbles on
top to match the rest of the garden and let nature take its course?

Dave

dig around each stump and cut off another 4 - 6 inches, then pull the soil
over and wait for nature to take it's course, or you could split them with
the axe first, which makes cutting them with the saw easier.

I like that :-) Thanks

Dave

A gardening DIY question
 

Stumps...

dig around each stump and cut off another 4 - 6 inches, then pull the
soil over and wait for nature to take it's course, or you could split
them with the axe first, which makes cutting them with the saw easier.


I pull out stumps with a winch, lots of digging and axing,
and an aluminium scaffold bar for a handle
(and best to leave 4 or 5 feet above ground
to tie the cable to the top and get leverage
(i learnt that by experience))

Some say if you cut it with a hollow in the stump
then rain water collects there and helps it rot.

or drill a hole and pour in some Stump Killer chemical

Or as they say leave it underground and hope it doesnt spring back to life.

[g]

A gardening DIY question
 

Dave wrote:
Nitromax® wrote:
Dave wrote:
Q 1 In next doors garden, right at the left hand side, at the bottom,
is a tree, whose roots are pushing up the final 2 paving slabs of the
path that runs to our back gate.

If I lift the paving, how can I cut back the roots to let the paving
down a few inches to allow me to open the gate? I have already taken
about 3 to 4 inches off the wooden gate.

I usually use a decent spade and a little effort.

Trouble with that idea is that at my age, I don't have that much grunt
for that amount of effort. :-((
I'm looking at reducing the thickness of the roots by about 4 to 6
inches. Still, I could get the *angle grinder* out to sharpen the spade
and see what I can do. :-)

Q 2 A similar problem, I have had some of those dreaded Leylandii cut
down earlier this year and there are stumps about 2 to 3 inches
sticking out of the ground (about 4 inches in diameter.) How can I
cut these down, or should I just put a membrane down with pebbles on
top to match the rest of the garden and let nature take its course?

Dave

To speed up the natural rotting process drill down into the
stumps with a large drill bit, water will collect and hasten the job.
I did this when I moved into my present address, 12 months later
the stumps either crumbled or lifted with ease.

Thanks, I had over looked that. The man that cut them down said that
they would rot readily.

Dave

I've seen pros use sds chisels to remove roots. It looked like hard work
but at least you're not on your knees.