Huge A*ce Root in my backyard

joker08

Expert Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2018
Messages
2,522
Reaction score
938
Location
Cape Town
I was thinking of starting a small vegetable garden in my backyard, there is a grass belt just adjacent to my sidewalk next to the pool which I thought will be an excellent spot to start. anyway, I started to remove the grass and the roots to plant some spinach, when my spade I hit something. It looks like its a huge root growing, the surprising part is there is no tree in the immediate vicinity. In fact the nearest tree is like more than 7 meters away.
I just dont know what to do because if I chop it, I am worried it will spread even more. Whats the best way to kill this thing.
Before someone says dont worry about it, let me tell that I had found a piece of root in the house when I had pulled out some rotten skirting from the wall. I am sure it's growing underneath the house.
@SAguy do u think roudup will work in this scenario?
@ToxicBunny Protek Clear-Al or Garlon Max ??

Below are some pics. Look it's branching as well.

20211004_160443.jpg20211004_160439.jpg
 
It looks like its a huge root growing, the surprising part is there is no tree in the immediate vicinity. In fact the nearest tree is like more than 7 meters away.
Clearly, what you're facing here is a dirty rusted conduit trunk/sleeve that simply looks a lot like a huge root.
Don't get electrocuted.
 
Clearly, what you're facing here is a dirty rusted conduit trunk/sleeve that simply looks a lot like a huge root.
Don't get electrocuted.
I pocked it and sap came out. That white stuff on it u see on the pic is the sap that came out.
 
Check if Garlon 4 from Efekto may help and grab some from your local hardware store.

Mix with diesel as prescribed, drill some holes into the root (or smack it with a hatchet a few times) and drop in the Garlon mixture.

EDIT: Just saw you did mention Garlon in your original post. Try that, I had good results previously with killing the roots and stump of an unwanted tree which was too big to dig up by hand. Can't recall what type of tree it was but the Garlon worked a treat. I drilled a few holes into the stump, poured in the Garlon mix and left it to break down in its own.
 
Last edited:
I was thinking of starting a small vegetable garden in my backyard, there is a grass belt just adjacent to my sidewalk next to the pool which I thought will be an excellent spot to start. anyway, I started to remove the grass and the roots to plant some spinach, when my spade I hit something. It looks like its a huge root growing, the surprising part is there is no tree in the immediate vicinity. In fact the nearest tree is like more than 7 meters away.
I just dont know what to do because if I chop it, I am worried it will spread even more. Whats the best way to kill this thing.
Before someone says dont worry about it, let me tell that I had found a piece of root in the house when I had pulled out some rotten skirting from the wall. I am sure it's growing underneath the house.
@SAguy do u think roudup will work in this scenario?
@ToxicBunny Protek Clear-Al or Garlon Max ??

Below are some pics. Look it's branching as well.

View attachment 1159582View attachment 1159584
I'll open it all the way as far as you can, chop it and poison the ends.
A while ago i chopped down a bougainvillea, drilled holes in the base and chucked (I think it was roundup) in the holes and plugged them. It died.
 
I'll open it all the way as far as you can, chop it and poison the ends.
A while ago i chopped down a bougainvillea, drilled holes in the base and chucked (I think it was roundup) in the holes and plugged them. It died.

^This
 
What type of tree is 7m away?
Since it’s so close to the wall could it be coming from a tree outside your property?
I’d just chop it up and burn it with petrol.
 
Check if Garlon 4 from Efekto may help and grab some from your local hardware store.

Mix with diesel as prescribed, drill some holes into the root (or smack it with a hatchet a few times) and drop in the Garlon mixture.

EDIT: Just saw you did mention Garlon in your original post. Try that, I had good results previously with killing the roots and stump of an unwanted tree which was too big to dig up by hand. Can't recall what type of tree it was but the Garlon worked a treat. I drilled a few holes into the stump, poured in the Garlon mix and left it to break down in its own.
The instructions on garlon didn't say the ratio. It just says diesel mixture.
Do u perhaps know the ratio ?
For now I drilled a inch hole, about halfway through it, then stuck a 100ml bottle over it filled with garlon and water mixture. 1:7 ratio.
Did this in the morning. I am on the second bottle now, its drinking it fast.

Do u think diesel mixture would be faster ?
 
What type of tree is 7m away?
Since it’s so close to the wall could it be coming from a tree outside your property?
I’d just chop it up and burn it with petrol.
Dont know what type, but it's in my neighbor's backyard.
They have three or I think 4 huge trees, could be anyone of them.
 
Dont know what type, but it's in my neighbor's backyard.
They have three or I think 4 huge trees, could be anyone of them.
I’d just cut it up and burn it closest to the tree.
Remove the other part as much as you can before it starts damaging stuff like the house or the pool or your paving.
 
Poisoning it is a terrible idea. You have no idea which tree it comes from, and if you kill the tree you could have very angry neighbours on your hands.
 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X