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Birch Trees

Q.Invasive tree roots

Zone B45 8PE | themoseleys2002 added on May 11, 2018 | Answered

We have a silver birch tree near my raised bed. I have lined the bed with a good quality weed mat at the base of the bed and up all four sides. The tree roots have penetrated the bed and have taken over the soil with fine root clusters which mat the soil together. What is the answer, Do I empty the bed and use another form of weed and root membrane, or can i use a poison on the soil.

Thank you
Graham

A.Answers to this queston: Add Answer
roseman
Answered on May 11, 2018

I have purchased some of the widest lawn edging metal material I can find and used that to go all around the raised beds. Then using a a shovel like this one: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-47-in-Garden-Spade-Shovel-96676933J/202681793 , dig all the way around the raised beds with it to create a nice deep channel all the way around the beds. Place the metal edging as deep as possible in the channel areas, if you can get it deep enough maybe even apply a double layer of the metal edging one on top of the other. Spray down into the trench with some herbicide to help deliver the message to the roots that they are not to go there, then fill in with dirt. This has worked well for me at stopping such activity. You do not have to apply the herbicide if so desired.

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