I think I'd call a professional tree removal service to get those trunks out. Also I've rototilled my garden and had I known, wouldn't have bothered in many areas. The roots wind around the tiller and then requires hours to try to get the mess untangled from the blades. Also this previous owner had underground sprinklers and extension cords I didn't know about! The hoses were rotting anyhow, but it was a disaster.
That fence looks like it should be replaced. Trees should never be planted right on a property line or right beside a structure!
Anyhow, one thought I have is that you get the roots out as best as you can and then consider adding several inches of topsoil before laying grass; raise the entire lawn so the roots are burried.
Those roots aren't that big. I have the old stump of a gigantic leylandii still in one border, it's completely dead, I just leave it there. Other roots the size of the ones in your picture I have treated with root stump killer and am just waiting for them to die off. Next spring I will dig a huge hole around them and just dig/cut them out. I've done it before, all but the very largest tree roots can be dug out with a bit of patience. I agree with the previous posts, DO NOT ROTIVATE. Bramble roots are awkward but you can get them out with again, lots of digging and patience. I had to laugh when I saw your pictures, I wish my garden had been this tidy. I can't afford a digger, etc, we're doing it all by hand, and so we're in it for the long haul, don't expect to have a decent garden again until next year, but if like us you spend a bit of time and effort now on digging out the roots you will be rewarded in the future, if you rotivate you will have weeds everywhere for years. Good luck, keep posting updates, we all love to see everyone's gardens.
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I think I'd call a professional tree removal service to get those trunks out. Also I've rototilled my garden and had I known, wouldn't have bothered in many areas. The roots wind around the tiller and then requires hours to try to get the mess untangled from the blades. Also this previous owner had underground sprinklers and extension cords I didn't know about! The hoses were rotting anyhow, but it was a disaster.
That fence looks like it should be replaced. Trees should never be planted right on a property line or right beside a structure!
Anyhow, one thought I have is that you get the roots out as best as you can and then consider adding several inches of topsoil before laying grass; raise the entire lawn so the roots are burried.
Those roots aren't that big. I have the old stump of a gigantic leylandii still in one border, it's completely dead, I just leave it there. Other roots the size of the ones in your picture I have treated with root stump killer and am just waiting for them to die off. Next spring I will dig a huge hole around them and just dig/cut them out. I've done it before, all but the very largest tree roots can be dug out with a bit of patience. I agree with the previous posts, DO NOT ROTIVATE. Bramble roots are awkward but you can get them out with again, lots of digging and patience. I had to laugh when I saw your pictures, I wish my garden had been this tidy. I can't afford a digger, etc, we're doing it all by hand, and so we're in it for the long haul, don't expect to have a decent garden again until next year, but if like us you spend a bit of time and effort now on digging out the roots you will be rewarded in the future, if you rotivate you will have weeds everywhere for years. Good luck, keep posting updates, we all love to see everyone's gardens.
Hi MicheaL D
If you saw off the stumps as low as possible then you can put on
tree stump killer but do( cover stump with polethene bag ) so that no wild life are effected by the poison!
normally i would not sugest poison but in this case' YOU NEED HELP!
good luck.