Roots can be a major issue in the lawn. Raised roots can ruin the appearance of your lawn while also acting as an obstruction to lawnmowers. If you love your trees but aren't fond of the lumpy, bumpy lawn they seem to cause, you need the following guide to help you counteract the problem.
Water properly
Roots rise up for two reasons. If trees aren't getting sufficient water, small feeder roots may come to the surface to seek out air moisture. On the other hand, frequent, shallow irrigation can also lead to more surface roots. The trick is to water only once every couple of weeks, but to water deeply enough at these times that roots will grow downward toward the moisture instead of becoming surface roots. A landscaping service can help you determine the best watering schedule for your particular climate and the types of trees in your yard.
Install root barriers
As a general rule, the root system of a tree is roughly equal to the spread of the canopy above. Anything smaller may not provide sufficient support for the tree. You can install root barriers around the tree at this distance to help prevent raised roots extending beyond the canopy zone. Root barriers are metal sheets that are buried in the ground, effectively forming an underground fence that the roots can't grow through. You may still get raised roots within the barrier zone, but you shouldn't have any beyond this barrier.
Skip the grass
Planting grass over tree roots means you will constantly be trying to fight the lumps and bumps of surface roots. Instead, consider skipping the lawn entirely. You can plant a low maintenance ground cover, such as ground ivy or ferns. Other than occasional trims, there is no need to mow this sort of ground cover. Further, any roots will be completely camouflaged by the plants. Another option is to put in border edging and fill in the area with mulch. You can add annual flowers into this mulched ring around the tree. The mulch will hide any surface roots. Just make sure any plants you choose for the area won't rob the tree of necessary moisture or nutrients. You may need to increase water or fertilizer if you go with this option.
You may not be able to completely eliminate the tree's surface roots, but you can make them less annoying. Contact a landscape maintenance company that has experience with tree care for more help with your root problems.
Share15 July 2019
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