Fig Roots

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I have a neighbor that has a mature fig tree 20' +. It is about 6 feet away from the fence that divides our property. She said, "Yeah, cut the branches, cut the roots, do whatever you want."

I cut the roots to a depth of 12" (the depth of my pick axe). I've tried to plant vegetables, a grape and a couple of fruit trees (it is a side yard about 10 -15 wide, narrow southern exposure). Only the fruit trees are growing. When I dig up the vegetables (radishes, carrots with no edible roots) I found masses of fig roots.

Is there a barrier I could put along the fence line? How deep would it have to be?

Or what could coexist with the fig?

Featured Answer

echolane

8 years ago

Here's the root barrier I used, though I didn't get it from Amazon, nor did I have to buy a package. But this is the product. Root Barrier

like you, I have a fence line problem. I grow roses in a narrow strip along my long driveway. My neighbor has lots of shrubs and trees along his side of the fence line, it was effective as there were less aggressive trees than the redwoods. As I said, eventually, I couldn't contain those.redwood roots.

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Comments (6)

echolane
8 years ago
I have similar problems so am deeply sympathetic.

Fig trees have notoriously greedy roots, so be prepared for the impossible, but you could try a root barrier. I bought plastic root barriers 18" deep at my local professional landscape store. They were intended to keep away redwood roots. Which they did for ten years or so, but then they made their way through and there's nothing really I can do as they are HUGE.
Jean
8 years ago
Roots of woody trees sprout at the cut end when they are cut.

Roots are not greedy. They are trying to keep the tree alive.
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uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
8 years ago
I have a similar situation with neighbor's trees: fig, oak, redwood and others. Nope, the larger tree will always win. Perhaps a raised bed with a sturdy root barrier might work. Or till four feet down and plant a more aggressive tree than they have.

Or, sell the house and move.
llilibel03zone10bsunset24
Original Author
8 years ago
Can I just poison it?

Kidding. I guess I will try a 18"-24" root barrier along the fence line and some raised bed planters.

Thanks for replies.
uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
8 years ago
Its not a fight that you can win unless the offending tree dies. Maybe you could plant another type of fig on your side of the fence?

I'm rather sensitive to all of this as I used to be the offender. I bought a house nearly 30 years ago with 19 redwoods... then added 11 more!. years later those roots cost me nearly $40k in pipe and pool damage... and cost $$ rip them ALL out. Now I have a yard.

As an arborist said to me years ago... if you have redwoods, you do not have landscaping. correct!

At least figs produce some tasty treats! [just keep the birds and other critters away]