Large weed rhizomes/roots
justinpgreenaway
Posts: 21
Hi
I have alot of weeds in my garden including dandelion, shepherds purse, chickweed, hairy bittercress, chickweed and probably others.
Ive done a lot of work so they are largely under control but I have on several occasions during removal come across what I'd describe as round and quite thick twigs/ roots about 1 to 2 inches under the lawn turf.
They can be about an inch thick but in most places have a diameter of about half and inch or less. I usually get pliers and pull them up (or some of them). I usually end up tearing a foot long rip in the turf as the root comes up (they appear to be growing across rather than straight down.
I just wondered if any knew what this root system could be. The garden was neglected for a couple of years before I took over so wonder if it's simply a common weed that spreads via rhizomes
My lawn is about ninety square metres in size and I have found the roots all over the lawn so they aren't confined to a single area
Posts
that sort of growth usually can be traced to a tree.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Hi Justin. It sounds to me like those could be tree roots. They can sometimes last for several years after trees have been taken down. Do you have any trees anywhere near to you, as they can travel quite widely?
Snap nutcutlet!
In the sticks near Peterborough
Hi
Thanks for the response
There are a couple of small trees in the garden. A Japanese Acer about 9/10ft tall in one corner and a similar sized Japanese blossom (not sure of the exact type) in the other corner. could they be gib enough to do this?
Some of the roots appear to break the surface in places so would this be normal for a tree root?
Not sure if this is related but I have been getting some small twiggy red/green plants sprouting all over and I did wonder if they were from the Acer but assumed they'd come from seed rather than via rhizomes. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree with this one
Regards
Justin
Japanese acers unlikely. Look for cherry/plum tree stump or something like that.
In the sticks near Peterborough
The 'Japanese blossom' tree you mention is almost certainly a cherry and those are well known for sending out shallow roots like this.
ah, I wondered what Japanese blossom was, should have asked
In the sticks near Peterborough
couple of photos attached of the two trees. I thought one of them was a cherry blossom but wasn't sure. Would the roots spread out that far (up to 3 o pr 4 metres away from the tree).
yes they would, and further.
Can't ID them from the photos, would need to get a bit closer and see the shape of the leaves, but if they have short lived flamboyant blossom and nothing much for the rest of the year they're probably flowering cherries
In the sticks near Peterborough