Last year, my vegetable weren't doing great and I noticed lots of tree roots were in the raised beds. What are my options now?
Tree roots in raised beds
- Thread starter charlotteNC
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Greetings, welcome to the Forums.
Which species of tree is sending roots into your vegetable bed? Were there any other weeds in your vegetable bed?
If it is something like tree roots, turning the soil and break up the roots each Spring before planting would help greatly.
If possible post a photo of the beds and roots and the suspect tree. It is good to see the details.
Which species of tree is sending roots into your vegetable bed? Were there any other weeds in your vegetable bed?
If it is something like tree roots, turning the soil and break up the roots each Spring before planting would help greatly.
If possible post a photo of the beds and roots and the suspect tree. It is good to see the details.
I have like 8 big trees in my backyard as well as my neighbors. The roots seem to take over the whole bed. I believe it was roots from the oak trees. There are no weeds in the bed. I don’t see a option to add a photo
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I think annual tilling either at the beginning or end of Winter would be the most effective way to keep tree roots under control.
Of course, you don't want to damage the trees by tilling beneath them, but it is a reasonable measure to keep roots out of the raised beds.
If you are interested in no-till gardening or just want to reduce tillage labor, you might experiment with tilling every second or third year, However, that might not be enough. It depends on how quickly the tree roots will re-invade.
From the photos, you garden last year looks very neat and healthy, but you say there were problems. What were the problems?
Was plant growth and yield disappointing?
Competition from tree roots may have been part of the problem, but it is good to consider other reasons as well.
Of course, you don't want to damage the trees by tilling beneath them, but it is a reasonable measure to keep roots out of the raised beds.
If you are interested in no-till gardening or just want to reduce tillage labor, you might experiment with tilling every second or third year, However, that might not be enough. It depends on how quickly the tree roots will re-invade.
From the photos, you garden last year looks very neat and healthy, but you say there were problems. What were the problems?
Was plant growth and yield disappointing?
Competition from tree roots may have been part of the problem, but it is good to consider other reasons as well.
I am thinking of elevating all the raised bed off the ground. Raised it up maybe like 3ft or so and don't have to deal with tree roots no more. Shallow roots vegetables seem to do well last year. The cucumbers, bitter melons, and gourds all didn't produce much yield.
Do you mean separating the beds completely form the ground by either a solid surface or an air space?
If so, this is certainly possible, but understand this will be much more like container gardening. The biggest drawbacks to growing vegetables in containers are that root space is limited, irrigation will be more frequent, and it is often harder to maintain even soil moisture.
If you just mean that you will raise the sides of the beds, roots will still be able to go deep, but there may still be the possibility of some tree roots coming up. In-ground, tall raised beds will dry out a little faster, but the drainage should be very good.
Also high beds mean less bending over, which can be easier on back strain.
If so, this is certainly possible, but understand this will be much more like container gardening. The biggest drawbacks to growing vegetables in containers are that root space is limited, irrigation will be more frequent, and it is often harder to maintain even soil moisture.
If you just mean that you will raise the sides of the beds, roots will still be able to go deep, but there may still be the possibility of some tree roots coming up. In-ground, tall raised beds will dry out a little faster, but the drainage should be very good.
Also high beds mean less bending over, which can be easier on back strain.
I’m going to raised it completely off the ground. Will still have around 16in of soil depth. I believe that should be enough for most vegetables.
I have a drip system so I can control the moisture level for each bed. Just going to be lots of work to take the soil out of each bed and elevate it.
Thanks for all your insight. English is my second language, hopefully you can understand me.
I have a drip system so I can control the moisture level for each bed. Just going to be lots of work to take the soil out of each bed and elevate it.
Thanks for all your insight. English is my second language, hopefully you can understand me.
Good luck with that project. Yes, I understand. Your English is perfect.