To keep that lush, full canopy happy, willow trees develop incredibly wide and powerful root systems. These roots have a serious drive to grow! If you’re planning on removing a willow, you can’t just stop at the trunk—you’ve got to deal with the roots, too. Here’s the lowdown on how to get the job done right.
Understanding Willow Roots
The willow is a shallow-rooted tree. But don’t let that fool you; “shallow” doesn’t mean “weak.” A large willow will have thick, sturdy roots that are firmly anchored in the earth. If you want to prevent the tree from sprouting right back up from the ground, you have to remove the root system entirely. It’s a bit of a project, but definitely doable.
Common reasons you might need to dig them out:
- Roots are lifting up your patio pavers or sidewalk.
- They’re hogging all the water, leaving your other plants thirsty.
- They’re threatening to damage underground pipes or utility lines.
- The aggressive growth is simply becoming a hazard to your landscape.
How to Remove Willow Roots for Good
To make sure your willow doesn’t make an unwanted comeback, you have to be thorough. Just sawing off the trunk won’t cut it; you need to lift those roots out of the dirt. It takes some elbow grease, but it’s the only way to be sure the tree is gone for good. If you’re only trying to remove a few specific roots to save a pipe or a walkway, try to avoid damaging the main taproot if you want the tree to survive.
Here is the most effective way to pull the roots:
- Saw the tree down as close to the trunk base as possible.
- Carefully dig around the root ball to expose the main structure.
- Use a sharp spade to cut through the radiating root strands.
- Secure a heavy-duty chain around the remaining stump.
- Attach the other end of the chain to a vehicle’s trailer hitch.
- Slowly and carefully use the vehicle to pull the root ball out of the ground.
- Finally, go back through and clear out any remaining large root fragments.
Because of the willow’s typical growing habits, the root plate usually doesn’t dive as deep as trees with taproots. With a little hard work and some horsepower, you’ll be able to clear that spot in no time!
