Best way to clear under trees?

[Seahorse]

I inherited three plum trees on my lottie They were all horribly overgrown but I'm chopping everything around them down to ground level. There are still masses of weed and bramble roots though at their bases though. I don't want to start hacking about with a spade or fork, for fear of damaging the trees themselves and I'm gardening organically, so not using any weedkillers etc.

Is there a 'best way' to get rid of all the weed roots?

[rustylady]

As you're against spraying. try laying black weed-suppressant material (or thick cardboard or old carpet) over the weeds once you've chopped them back to ground level. This will work eventually (may take some time), but at least your trees won't have to compete with the weeds and you won't be damaging the tree roots.