With its distinctive spiral branches and pretty catkin flowers, the corkscrew willow deceives us about its aggressive root system. In no time, the roots extend for meters up to house walls, lift paving stones or press against supply pipes. It's high time to remove the roots. We'll explain how to do this here.
How do I remove corkscrew willow roots?
To remove corkscrew willow roots, put on work clothes and use a saw, spade and hoe. Exposing, sawing off and digging out the long root strands as well as lifting out the root ball after sawing off the main root are necessary steps.
Dig up roots – this is how to do it the hard way
In order to remove the corkscrew willow and its roots in the classic way, the soil should be as dry as possible. Therefore, do not start work immediately after a rainy day. Wear sturdy work clothing and sturdy gloves. You should also have a sharp saw (€49.00 on Amazon), as well as a spade and a hoe, as working tools. Follow these steps:
- Determine the route of supply pipes in advance and mark them with wooden stakes
- Cut the ornamental shrub down to the ground to get a clear view of the stump
- Exposure the roots using a hoe and spade
- Saw off long root strands and dig them out
It is not uncommon for the roots to extend up to 10 meters from the root ball. Expose the long rhizomes and saw them off in stages and then pull them out of the ground. Loosen the root ball itself using a digging fork and lift it out of the ground. It is an advantage to saw off the main root beforehand and dig it up afterwards.
Put it on the chain and pull it out – this is how you save muscle wax
If damage to supply pipes and masonry can be ruled out, a less strenuous method comes into focus. To do this, cut the corkscrew willow back so far that a knee-high stump remains. A chain is attached to this, which in turn is attached to a towing vehicle to pull the bale out of the ground. However, you will not be spared having to first saw off the long root strands and dig them out individually.
Tip
If you consider the relentless growth of the roots when planting, you won't have to worry about removing them or causing damage later. Line the planting hole with a geotextile root barrier and keep the strong root strands in their place. Alternatively, place the root ball in the ground using a bottomless concrete tub.
