How do I remove the ROOTS of a coconut treee stump?

10 years ago

I'd like to know the quickest/easiest way to get these tangled roots out! I had two "Samoan Dwarf Coconut Palms" (that's what I think they're called??) in a small patch of dirt for about 8-10 years. The trunks were about 4 feet tall and the fronds another 4-5 feet when we cut them down back in November.

I wanted to start a garden in this plot, but when I started to work on loosening and amending the compacted dirt, I found a whole web of roots very close to the surface! Some of the roots are dry and dead, with a hollow thin papery 'shell' of bark around the root, but most still have a solid moist 'flesh' around the root. The roots are about as wide around as string cheese (sorry, best comparison I could think of), with smaller roots coming off of them, they're very strong and are quite enmeshed. They spread across the whole area of dirt all the way up to the walls.

I was able to get a section somewhat cleared out, by digging and prying up the roots and cutting them or pulling them, but this took several days and back breaking work all for a small section. Plus, I had to completely dig all the dirt out to do this and I don't want to have to do that. There must be an easier way... what can I do? It has to be done myself because I have no money to hire anyone to do it.

Or, would it be okay to just hoe the ground and chop the surface up a bit and plant my vegetables and flowers anyway? Or am I in over my head even attempting this and should just save up my money to get enough soil to make a raised garden bed on top of this plot?

picture of actual roots close up: http://i63.tinypic.com/2webg4n.jpg

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Comments (3)

stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I hate when I have coconut palm stumps all over my yard in Hayward. Just kidding.

If you have a chainsaw...cut the stump in thin vertical sections that should break off with a crowbar or something to pry them.

I would bet Kim,a 35$ electric chainsaw could do that. Then,just mound some soil over the now flattened stump...and in months it should all rot and breakdown.

ok- I saw the photo,had stumps on my mind...its the roots that are in your way. That you might have to dig up as much of the topsoil away...and simply chop the largest surface roots and remove them...the smaller should rot pretty quickly. It might take a few hours..but when done you will have room to plant. If you can hire somebody willing to dig out the soil and then hack the big roots close to the stumps, and then amend the soil as long as its dug out,you should be good to go.
tropicbreezent
10 years ago
Short of hiring someone, or many hours of back breaking digging, the only option is time. They'll rot away eventually, especially if you have a warm wet climate. What sort of soil is it? If it drains reasonably well I'd just make planting holes and put your new plants in. Let the Coconut roots rot away in their own time and they'll improve the soil in the process. That's all I've ever done with Coconuts, Nature takes it all back.
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mesembs
10 years ago
I have literally no experience with pulling out roots, but I would say if you want to clear the area of roots, you will find yourself with more than you can handle. I would ask a question: Do you need the garden right where the palms used to be?

Of course, you could try planting the garden in around the stumps, and seeing if that works.

Good luck!

~palmsandsnow