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Hello all, I'm at my wit's end and hoping someone can help me. 4 years ago I started some raised beds in some land attached to my new build house. Unfortunately the sycamore and ash tree thought they had the right to infiltrate the new soil and have made thick matted clumps of roots in every bed. I have dug them out once and put down plastic liners (an old polytunnel cover) in an effort to prevent this growth, but to no avail. I have had the radical thought of lining the beds with concrete or paving slabs, but would this cause a drainage issue? Can anyone provide me with a wonder cure????
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We inherited a concrete lined pond with our allotment, so I am pretty sure that lining beds with solid concrete would cause drainage issues
Not tried paving slabs, but I suspect small roots would find their way through any tiny gap, just like they do with foundations and drains etc. However, if you could hoe along the floor and walls of the paving slab beds each year you should be able to get rid of any small roots and prevent them getting larger.
If the trees are yours, they could be felled- although that is perhaps a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
Likewise moving raised beds to beyond the tree canopy would be a lot of hard work.
Maybe you should get your name on the council allotment waiting list?
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Waste of time trying to grow much apart from ornamentals too close to big trees ( I've gardened near the edge of a wood for the last 35 years). Either the trees have to go, or you need to find a different place for your fruit and veg growing.Comment
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Hi and welcome. How big are the trees and are they on your land?
I have some huge ash trees and the roots are a pain but, if the trees aren't too big they can be removed.Comment
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