Tree Root invasion Cancel The title field is required!

1. Craig McDonald

   

   0 posts
   
   2/23/2012 10:02 PM

   Was hoping to find any help or advice on how to keep tree roots from encroaching and raising turf. I had re-built a tee box at my facility about 4 years ago now and the back portion has raised about 7 to 10 inches from a large redwood adjacent to the Tee. Outside of the tree being removed, any ideas of how to keep the root mass from invading again after I remove sod and re-level tee surface...thank you for any input in advance.

   
   
   
   
2. Churchill Kevin

   
   2/24/2012 1:02 PM

   I am not familiar with the roots of a redwood, but I'm assuming they're pretty tough. We have historically root pruned around some of our oaks and pines, as well as along stretches of wood lines. A trencher works great. We have also done it with a stump grinder acting as a trencher, but it's not as efficient and it won't go as deep. Try to go as deep as you can. It's probably necessary to do it every year or two.

   
   
   
   
3. Craig McDonald

   

   0 posts
   
   2/24/2012 9:02 PM

   Thank you for the input...I remember back when I was a young Assistant my boss would have us "root prune" around some of the green perimeter's where the Oak trees would take the water and the greens would be dry especially after aerification...I will share this with my new Greens Chairman as I have brought up this method in the past for a couple of greens here but I was met with hesitation...maybe new Chairman will listen!!!! Thanks again
   Craig McDonald

   
   
   
   
4. Mark Dennison

   

   0 posts
   
   2/25/2012 8:02 AM

   Craig,
   
   I took a class several year ago at the national instructed by James Baird and Scott Robinson. What I remember from the class is that after pruning you will often get a bunch of new roots that will run parallel to the original root and they often grow up to 18" per year. Another thing is that the roots will grow over or under any trench, even if you put gravel and or barriers in the trench. Then finally there's a formula, which I can't find, of how far from the tree you need to trench in order to make sure the tree remains stable and not turn into a liability. The formula depended on the girth of the tree if I remember correctly.
   
   After I found all this out, I presented it to my Green Committee and we decided to cut the tree down.
   
   Mark Dennison
   Christiana Creek CC
   Elkhart, IN

   
   
   
   
5. Don Davis

   

   0 posts
   
   2/25/2012 11:02 AM

   Craig,
   We have 80' Ponderosa Pines surrounding most of our greens. I have been root pruning around 2 greens a year to eliminate root encroachment. I have also installed a barrier to try and help with keeping the roots out. I order the barrier through Horizon, but if you google the SKU I'm sure you can find it. So far it works great and has cut down on handwatering the next year. I'm sure the roots will find their way around, but it makes me feel good to know I am making it a little harde for them.
   
   
   SKU Part Description July 1, 2010 List Price Pkg Qty: Catalogs Price
   EP-1250 12INX24INL ROOTBARRIER PNL 7.00 25 Landscape $3.56
   EP-1850 18INHX24INL ROOTBARRIER PNL 10.73 25 Landscape $5.45
   EP-2450 24INHX24INL ROOTBARRIER PNL 13.53 25 Landscape $6.87
   EP-3650 24INHX36IN ROOTBARRIER PNL 26.24 25 Landscape $13.33
   RP-1250 12 IN H X24 IN ROOTBARRIER PNL 5.95 16 Landscape $3.02
   RP-1850 18 IN H X24 IN ROOTBARRIER PNL 9.12 16 Landscape $4.63
   RP-2450 24INHX24INL ROOTBARRIER PNL 11.49 16 Landscape $5.84
   RP-3650 36 IN H X24 IN ROOTBARRIER PNL 22.27 16 Landscape $11.31
   
   Don Davis
   Chaparral Pines

   
   
   
   
6. Hardy Andrew

   
   2/25/2012 11:02 AM

   Imants makes the best root pruner www.rootpruner.com
   
   I rent one from a local contractor. Awesome, and no cleanup like the trencher

   
   
   
   
7. McCallum David K

   
   2/27/2012 8:02 AM

   A cable puller such as used by cable installers does a great job......gets down as deep as 3" depending upon the size of the machine.

   
   
   
   
8. Keith Lamb

   

   3 posts
   
   2/27/2012 9:02 AM

   David McCallum said: A cable puller such as used by cable installers does a great job......gets down as deep as 3" depending upon the size of the machine.

   
   
   
   A whole 3" !!!! Wow.

   
   
   
   
9. McCallum David K

   
   2/27/2012 12:02 PM

   Make that 3 feet Mr Lamb........nothing gets by you.