Tree Root Removal

Let’s talk tree root removal. Yes, here at Gold Coast Stump Grinders we specialise in stump removal but removing the root of a tree as much as possible is an important part of tree stump removal. Why? Because tree roots, if not removed effectively, can harbour pests and can also begin to grow back! Fast-growing, aggressive and invasive tree species are more likely to sprout again very quickly after the tree has been chopped down and the top of the stump removed.

Tree roots that still have nutrients may sprout again and all the effort taken to remove a tree can be undone in just a few years as the root starts to reach for the sky in order to survive. A tree root system can be extensive and can go meters below the ground, it can also extend as far underground as the height and the diameter of the tree itself! As you can imagine just using muscle and manual labour it would be extremely difficult to remove enough of the root system to ensure the tree doesn’t grow back.

Tree Root Removal Do’s and Don’ts

So now you have had your tree cut down to the stump, here are a few options to consider when dealing with the removal of the stump or the root system.

Sure, you can naturally manage a relentless stump or root by removing any new growth whether, from an old tree stump or the actual root system, this process takes patience persistence. By pruning the sprout where it meets the root or removing the bits of the stump that have started to sprout. However, this process of tree root removal can take anywhere between two to seven years until the nutrients in the root have been used up. Never throw clippings in your compost!

Digging out roots manually or with a chainsaw isn’t an effective solution either, bits of the root system that are left in the ground will start to grow back even if they are not longer connected to the main root. If considering using a chainsaw to get stuck into the root system STOP now! We don’t recommend trying it unless you want an instantly blunt blade. Your chainsaw won’t last long as soon as it hits the dirt.

Excavation is another way to ensure the tree root is removed effectively however excavators are cumbersome and can be expensive to hire – they don’t fit into tight places and will leave a huge hole where the root system was that will need to be filled in and compacted. Excavating can become costly and more of a headache then it is worth!

The Secret to Removing Tree Roots…

So, what is the best most cost-effective and time-efficient way of removing tree roots? Stump grinding! Stump grinders come in a verity of sizes so they can tackle the biggest jobs or squeeze into small places that an excavator can’t. Our small stump grinder can access gated areas and tight spots with a diameter of 750mm it will grind away roots to the depth of 250mm. The larger grinder can still easily access many areas with a width of 1000mm and will grind roots away at 500mm – that’s an impressive half a meter in depth! an effective way to kill any root system. In some cases, such as a fast-growing tree or invasive species a general root or tree poison can be mixed into the remaining mulch, but this isn’t necessary. Stump grinders will grind away in the dirt happily tackling roots, there is no extra work like left-over green waste to take to the tip as a grinder, grinds all matter into fertile and nutrient wood chips for your garden. Tree root removal by grinder is the best way to ensure roots such as palm trees that have thousands of finger-sized roots are removed completely and quickly and those aggressively re-sprouting trees don’t have a chance to grow back.