weeds???

iscott123 9/2/2015, 8:22 pm

Hello,

This is my first year with SFG. I finally got a chance to pull out some old plants and was getting ready to replenish the soil and start the fall crop. To my surprise, there was a web of roots coming through the weed protection net that I have under the garden. In some parts it was so thick I had trouble getting it out! No wonder my plants were not doing so well. Is this "normal?" Is there anything I can do about it?

Thanks,
Ioana

**Scorpio Rising** 9/2/2015, 9:26 pm

Hey, iscott, did you use the SFG method, with building boxes, etc.?

**camprn** 9/2/2015, 9:56 pm

Yup, I had this problem. Jimmy had this problem. Nasty tree root hairs; they will choke the life out of a garden. I had to elevate all of my beds to be rid of the tree root hairs.

Here is a post from Jimmy about this business. It is no fun at all!!!

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t18651-roots-information?highlight=roots

**sanderson** 9/2/2015, 10:07 pm

Iscott, Yep, invasive roots can be a real problem. The Mel's Mix is so nutritious that the roots from bushes or trees will pop through the weed screen like it was tissue paper. Elevating the boxes off the ground is really the only solution. It's a nasty job but worth it at the end. Here are some more links:

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t17608-roots-roots-roots-really-need-some-help-on-this-one?highlight=roots

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t19451-tree-roots-gone-beds-back-in-business?highlight=tree+roots

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t18622-bed-raising?highlight=bed+raising

Yardslave 9/3/2015, 12:31 pm

I opted to use a "pro-grade" landscaper's weed barrier on my beds, and it worked for about 4 years until the drought got worse, then I started finding walnut tree roots from the neighbor's yard ( about 60' away!) invading the beds. then a plum tree sent roots from 10' away. The invasion was slow, so I didn't notice what was going on. I had to turn the soil and cut the roots.
The whole thing could be avoided by keeping the beds off the ground. At least the weed-blocker worked- but isn't impenetrable to thirsty tree roots; I still don't regret using it though.

**sanderson** 9/3/2015, 2:36 pm

Yes, the weed barrier works - for weeds.

Marc Iverson 9/6/2015, 2:46 pm

I had to deal with that misery too ... roots an inch thick from the surrounding forest land. Pulling them up was back-breaking. Despite the horrible expense, I'd almost rather have tabletops or nothing at all at this point ... or just grow in isolated containers ... the moles, voles, pocket gophers, and roots are so destructive and can take so much work to deal with.

Yardslave 9/6/2015, 7:59 pm

My back took a beating too- I thought that 18" deep boxes were the way to go, but in hindsight I'd recommend tabletops or beds on solid concrete. In reality, with Mel's mix the veggie roots are happy with 6" deep boxes. It's funny, carrots just heave up when they bottom out!

**donnainzone5** 9/6/2015, 8:13 pm

Or grow into L-shapes!

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