Soil laden with old tree roots.
onefrazzledmam
Posts: 5
Hi everyone.
This is my first post so please be gentle with me. 
I recently moved into my new home and discovered that four trees of 20+ years had been felled in the peripherals of my back garden.
I am wanting to plant some contenders for privet, brambles and invasive weeds (I have dug out and cut back all I can see) but I am finding it an issue because the tree roots are embroidered into the fabric of the bloomin soil and can only dig maybe 1ft in some places.
Can anyone suggest some shallow rooted, invasive but beautiful foliage/flowers/bushes that I can plant in temperamental soil to grow up the bare patches of privet where I've wrenched the lot out? Lol.
Ps. Took some advice that I found on a random forum that suggested a spray of 9 parts water to 1 part full fat milk to deal with mildew on peas. Two days on and they look luscious and lovely.
Posts
Hi and welcome one frazzled man. I'm not sure what you really want a) shrubs b) foliage plants or c) flowers. As a temporary measure try geranium macrorrhizum - tough as old boots several colours and spreads well.The leaves are pretty too. Some people hate the smell of the leaves but I don't mind it.
If you can dig as much as 1ft you are doing well
The trick is to start with small plants. You will be able to find a range of shrubs in small pots quite cheaply, and they willl grow away quickly at this time of year. Dig as deep a hole as you can manage, pop them in and give a good mulch of mixed compost and well rotted farmyard manure to deepen the soil. Don't bury them deeper than they were planted though. If the hole is deep enough you could add some of the mix at the bottom too. Keep them watered till established.
Last edited: 24 May 2016 19:41:10
Thank you for the advice.
Are we talking about bedding plants, Geraniums?
I have a few of those in pots. The slugs/snails don't seem to touch em. Could I just straight transplant them?
I also wondered. I have a Honey-berry bush that is growing beautifully in a large pot, was hoping to transplant this into one of the voids I've created.
But . . . Would really hate to kill it off.
Have also read a few frightening posts about using Growmore.
I was talking about the hardy geraniums which slugs also avoid. It would be fine to transplant the honey berry bush too.
Hi,
What were the trees?
Are they huge roots and root systems?
Where is the garden?
What's the soil type?
Where are you planting (borders etc.)?
You could just tackle it as you are doing piecemeal. Soil condition here and there as you plant out, and gradually. I spent a week trying to dig a trench down to two feet! So know how hard it can be. A foot of good top soil isn't that bad.
Question for others: Is it best to leave the roots, how long will they take to rot down? And will they still have beneficial naturally occurring micro-rhizome fungi? I'm never quite sure if I should remove roots or leave them, I usually pick out larger stones and other detritus.
Thanks Wayside.
The trees were an Oak and a Sycamore. The roots are MAJOR.
I think the soil is a mid clay. It is West facing rear garden. Sun from 1pm onwards at the mo.
I've done as you suggested, piecemeal. Much more manageable. And I'm starting to see real progress.
However, still pulling up roots like it's a tug of war. Pulled an all mighty one earlier, that when it finally snapped, I fell right on my backside.
I'm gonna add some No 3 Innes, some organic veg waste/egg shell matter and some fish, blood and bone.
Was gonna try the honey bush and maybe plant in some red onions/potatoes around the peripherals?
Failing that, I've bought some Gladioli bulbs? Lol.
It's funny you've mentioned funghi as I've had some growing (looks like cauliflower) under the hedge where one of the trees was. Resisted the urge to have it for breakfast.