Seems like just when I get a nice, rich vegetable bed going, SOMETHING is coming up from underneath and stealing all my plants' nutrients!
After once again clearing my beds following a disappointing season I find mounds of thin, reddish roots, reminiscent of cedar roots. But the closest cedar tree – a hedge and is about 40 feet away. There's a large cherry tree about 30 feet away, a very large pine tree 45 feet away, and a small (5') dogwood.
Any idea on what this is? Or how I can reclaim my beds short of turning to container gardening?
Images below of what I'm finding.... In THREE different beds to varying degrees....
[img]https://lilicrawford.com/roots1.jpg[/img]
The main root in this picture is about 1/4" in diameter. I think this is what the bunches are coming off of.
[img]https://lilicrawford.com/roots2.jpg[/img]
Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.
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CharlieBear
- Green Thumb
- Posts: 588
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:19 pm
- Location: Pacific NW
It does look like tree roots, and with a tree only about 7 feet away, that is why people rototill up their beds when they are close to trees. The thing is that disturbs the soil to and weakens the tree on that side. If you go for box gardens you would have to put heavy cardboard under the box to keep the roots from just coming up into the box. The roots will go whereever it is easiest to go.