No part of a tree root that large is absorbing anything. Once roots have lignified, they serve merely as conduits for water and nutrients taken up by younger "feeder" roots. Of course, depending on the tree species, there could be a lot of those in there, too. Were there lots of smaller roots, too, or just the big root? What kind of tree?

There were also some (not tons) of smaller roots, ranging from maybe 1/4 to 1 inch.

I haven't a clue to what type of tree it is, but I just asked my gardner and he will find out.

I believe that the tree is an Ash tree.

Any ideas?

ak

I had the same problem when I moved a few years ago. ended up having to make all my gardens raised beds in order to avoid all the tree roots. It's a lot of work, but no matter where I dug I was hitting roots.

I can miss the root(s) if I'm carefull. I just need to know if the tree will get all the goodies I put in the bed for my 'babies'.

ak

I don't have personal experience with ash trees, but everything I've read so far says that they have invasive root systems. So, your roses may be up against a formidable competitor for resources. Perhaps someone with personal experience with ashes will weigh in.

I've had decidedly mixed experiences with tree roots.

Felcite Parmentier, a once blooming old garden rose, does quite well despite invasive tree roots fron a big maple--from time to time I'll cut the roots with a shovel. In anchors a corner of our main rose garden. A couple of modern roses did quite poorly in that location.

I also tried growing New Dawn at various distances from a Maple--20 ft is fine, but 10 ft and half day sun noticeably cuts the vigor of the rose to that of an average hybrid tea.

Sometimes I'll plant a rose in a poor spot--the poor thing will be totally encased in predatory roots....It isn't always obvious where the roots are coming from in our yard....

These days, I give my roses a head start by planting new beds cleared of tree roots. Last year I learned how to clear tree roots with an axe.

One of my best beds is 12' away from a big ash tree. My biggest worry is ash seeds that fall so thick that they cover the area. I have to pull seedlings constantly. I can't neglect it at all or they become difficult to remove. I love my ash tree and I knew what I was getting into when I planted the roses. You will have to give extra food and water because the ash will be there as well. You may well have to thin your ash tree's canopy to let more light in as it grows. But my ash tree shades my roses from the hottest sun and cools my roof in summer. The fallen leaves are very good to put back into the soil. If you mulch heavily, it's easier to pull out seeds that sprout. I have also removed mulch when the seed drop is happening and used a hose or blower to clean them out but I prefer to just gently sweep them off the surface of the mulch. It takes time to get them out of the centers of the roses. I planted HTs and that makes it easier than some other types of roses to clean around the bases.

Shading from Trees in my experience is much bigger problem then their roots. I have Curly Willow growing in the middle of my main Rose bed and as long as I keep it from getting too shady the roses have been perfectly happy.

That said, I have discovered that planting a rose on the opposite side of the fence from a Wisteria is a really bad idea. I planted both a Julia Child and a Peace rose in that area and neither of them did a thing. Moved them away from the wisteria and they are growing like gang busters.

I haven't encountered a shade tree yet which didn't "invade" planted areas. Wherever there is increased nutrition and water, they invade and make good use of them. The ONLY way I have ever successfully grown anything (other than other invasive plants) successfully around huge tress has been in large pots which NEVER have a soil to pot connection. They must be raised from the soil and no soil to pot contact be permitted.

Water and fertilizer flow from the pots into the soil. That attracts tree roots. They grow up through the soil, through the soil which washes from the drain holes and they pretty quickly make it up into the pots where they proliferate.

You may be able to grow some roses in that new bed for some years, with increasingly deteriorating success. But, the better you make that soil; the more fertilizers of any kind you put down there; the more water you apply, the more the tree will flourish and make efficient use of those resource. Sorry, disappointing, I know, but what you will very likely experience in the long run. Kim

I spoke with an arborist that I used before to remove limbs and give my yard more sunshine.....

He said that the tree is a Modesto Ash and although the roots are somewhat invasive, I don't have to be too careful about removing some of the smaller roots. He also said that I may have to give the roses a little more water and food, but if I don't mind doing that, the roses will do fine there. They are not shaded by the tree.

I am very excited about the new babies. They will be:

Francis Meilland
Marilyn Monroe
Midas Touch
Stainless Steel
Sugar Moon
Veteran's Honor and
St. Patrick

Thanks for your responses,

ak

That's the same Ash that I have. Beautiful golden leaves every fall without fail. A majestic tree. It's worth hiring a good arborist to care for it and shape it for beauty. I wish I had the space for a grove of these trees.