Best Way to Get Rid of Tree Roots/Even Ground?

Alley Cat on 17/03/2025 - 17:52
Last edited 17/03/2025 - 17:52

Hi OZ Gardeners,

The ground of my back patio has become increasingly uneven, so I decided to investigate. It turned out there are some serious roots growing under all the pavers, probably coming from the neighbouring properties. Photo here.

I have spent the last two days trying to clear some of the roots, but they are near impossible to pull out cleanly. Have resorted to cutting them with shears, then they are probably not good for the knife because of the soil and what not.

I presume the roots have to be cleared out before I can even the ground and put the pavers back. I have thought about replacing the pavers with cement, but that would not stop the roots from developing, and eventually break up the cement.

Do you have any suggestions? Should I use a hand saw? Is there any other way? This starts to feel like a much bigger project for me, if I have to take all the pavers off and remove the roots. I can really feel it in my lower back. The area is about 3x10 meters enclosed with metal fence, standard sized door, so no vehicle access.

Home & Garden Gardening

Comments

  • jv on 17/03/2025 - 17:59

    Best Way to Get Rid of Tree Roots/Even Ground?

    Depends on the type of tree…

    • Alley Cat on 17/03/2025 - 19:05

      Can't even see the tree. The fence pretty much joins the patio roof. And I'm not removing the main roots, only the small ones that dug into my property.

      • jv on 17/03/2025 - 22:31

        If you want to poison it though, it will depend on the tree type.
        Otherwise they will just grow back…

  • RogerLoger on 17/03/2025 - 18:35
    +3

    AFAIK, tree roots don't come with reverse. Your assumptions are right. Pull up pavers, trace the path or roots pulling pavers as you go and cut them off. You don't need to pull all pavers (you hope), just the ones with roots beneath. Re-level your sand and compact (probably need some supplementary sand). A board (or few) with cut-outs each end the depth of a paver will help you get them level. "You will never get them level again", a nosey neighbour told me. She was wrong. Put the pavers back and tamp them in place. Make a dry mix of fine sand and cement. Sweep it into the cracks. Hose and let it set. I used a hand tamper from Bunnings (https://www.bunnings.com.au/search/products?page=1&q=hand+ta…). Note the 4 hr hire of a machine is less expensive.

    I'm not sure about prevention. However, I suspect a dug in plastic barrier may stop surface roots. Search "creating a root barrier". From what I just saw, a few spade depths of digging is involved, but you may find a different method. I didn't have a major problem and treat the pavers occasionally with once-per year weeder to stop weeds seeding in cracks (it works for about 6 months). That probably has a deterrent effect on tree roots, but I can’t be sure.

    • Alley Cat on 17/03/2025 - 19:04

      Thanks for sharing your experience. Cement for the joints is a great idea. Might even stop the weeds for a few months. I was going to plant some peace lilies along the fence to make it look nicer, believe it or not, and it sort of just made sense for me to remove one paver and to plant them in the ground, and lay gravels on top to stop the weeds. That's when I started digging, and it clearly won't work with all the roots already occupying the soil.

      Bunnings actually hire out compactors https://www.bunnings.com.au/for-hire-small-compactor-24hr_p5… $64 for 24 hours, and water filled roller https://www.bunnings.com.au/for-hire-water-filled-roller-24h… $18 for 24 hours. I think I'll still need a tamper and a hammer, for better control.

      Some youtube videos suggested a reciprocating saw with pruning blade for the roots. They use it for massive roots that are mostly above ground though, which might not be great for this since the ground is wet and somewhat condensed — worried about kick backs.

      • RogerLoger on 17/03/2025 - 21:17

        If you get plain recipro pruning blades, dirt chews them out fairly fast. The blades I used also tended to bend. Carbides should last OK, but I haven't tried them.

  • Ocker on 17/03/2025 - 19:16

    Just inject poison into the roots and end of story

    • Euphemistic on 17/03/2025 - 20:30
      -1

      Next post: neighbour wont cut down a dead tree that will fall on my patio.

  • Some Human on 17/03/2025 - 19:24

    I was doing this a few weeks ago. I have a stihl mini pruner. Works great. Expect to be up for a new chain when you've finished cutting up the dirt.

    • Alley Cat on 17/03/2025 - 19:48

      That's an interesting device, so it's a mini chainsaw? And it's safe to go into hardened and wet ground?

  • lgacb08 on 17/03/2025 - 19:57
    +1

    Reciprocating saw will get those root out easy. But your paver is no good for such root because whatever that tree is, its shallow root system actively seek surface for exchange of air and nutrients, you will need to cover the ground with some barrier to make the area less desirable for the tree, it will seek out other place to pop out.

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