- Dig up roots - Here's how to do it the hard way
- Put it on the chain and pull it out - this way you save muscle fat
With its distinctive spiral branches and pretty catkin flowers, the corkscrew willow belies its aggressive root system. In no time at all, the roots can stretch for meters up to house walls, lift up paving stones or press against supply pipes. High time to remove the roots. Here we explain how it works.
Digging up the roots is exhausting but efficient
Dig up roots - Here's how to do it the hard way
In order to remove the corkscrew willow and its roots in the classic way, the soil should be as dry as possible. Therefore, do not start the work immediately after a rainy day. Put on sturdy work clothes and sturdy gloves. Furthermore, a sharp saw should be available as a working tool, as well as a spade and a hoe. Follow these steps:
- Determine the course of supply pipes in advance and mark them with wooden stakes
- Cut the ornamental shrub down to the ground to get a clear view of the stump
- Expose the roots with a hoe and spade
- Saw off and dig up long root strands
It is not uncommon for the roots to extend up to 10 meters from the root ball. Expose the long rhizomes and saw them off in stages to then pull them out of the ground. Loosen the root ball itself with a digging fork and lift it out of the ground. It is advantageous to saw off the main root beforehand and dig it up afterwards.
Put it on the chain and pull it out - this way you save muscle fat
If damage to supply pipes and masonry can be ruled out, a less sweaty method comes into focus. To do this, cut back the corkscrew willow so far that a knee-high stump remains. A chain is attached to this, which in turn is attached to a towing vehicle to pull the bale out of the ground. However, you will not be spared from first sawing off the long root strands and digging them out individually.
tips
If you consider the relentless growth of the roots when planting, you won't have to worry about removal or damage later. Line the planting hole with a geotextile root barrier and put the strong root strands in their place. Alternatively, place the root ball in the ground with a bottomless concrete tub.