If the thuja hedge is in an unfavorable place or a sick arborvitae needs to be replaced, the roots pose a problem. Can you just let the roots rot in the ground or do you have to pull the rootstock out of the ground entirely? How quickly do thuja roots rot?
How quickly do thuja roots rot and what can you do to speed up the process?
Thuja roots can take years to rot. To speed up the process, mill the trunk, drill holes in the root residue, fill them with compost and cover them with topsoil. Alternatively, you can dig up the roots, especially if you need the space for new plantings.
How long does thuja roots take to rot?
The bad news is that it can take years for a thuja root to rot. The only good thing about it is that, unlike other trees and shrubs, the arborvitae does not sprout again after cutting.
If you want to plant other plants instead of the arborvitae hedge, all you have to do is dig up the roots.
The garden may be severely affected. If necessary, you should hire a garden specialist to remove the roots.
Accelerating the rotting of thuja roots
If you leave the roots in the ground to rot, you can speed up the process a little:
- milling the trunk
- Drill holes in the root residue
- fill with compost
- Pour mother earth over it
Rill down the trunk as far as possible. Drill, saw or poke lots of holes in the roots and fill them with compost. The microorganisms brought into the roots ensure faster decomposition.
Pour topsoil above the root residue. Then you can at least sow lawn over it. However, keep in mind that the soil at the root site will sink over time the more the root rots.
Dig up thuja roots
Digging up thuja roots makes sense if you then want to put something else in the place of the hedge. As it has shallow roots, a younger tree of life can be pulled out of the ground quite easily.
With older, thick thujas, you need a lot of time and energy or a mini excavator (€9.29 on Amazon). The excavator is definitely worth it if you have to dig up the roots of an entire arborvitae hedge. However, not every garden can be accessed by a mini excavator. Other plants are also affected.
Tip
Sometimes you can read on the Internet that a thuja can simply be poisoned. That's not advisable. As a result, they damage the environment and pose a danger to children and animals.