I can't dig into the ground, too many old roots!

I live in a townhouse, and my neighbor just had an old huge bush chopped down and ripped up yesterday. Problem is, my trash can is now exposed and the fancy HOA doesn't like that, I need to hide the trash can, so I went out yesterday and purchased a new, small bush just big enough to hide my trash. This morning I went to dig a hole to place the plant in and realized it was going to be an almost impossible task. The roots from the old bush are all over underground by my trash can and I was only able to get about 6 inches down before I was exhausted from trying to cut/slam these roots. Is there anything I can place in this area to help the roots decay? These roots are about 2-3 inches thick in most spots... the small ones I could easily just cut with the shovel, but these big ones have my stumped...

The hole I have to dig is about 1-1.5 feet deep. Any suggestions?

Sawzall with a woodcutting or pruning blade. Dig around the offending root and simply cut out the section(s) that are impeding your hole making. Good Luck

big pruners work well too, the ones you use with both arms like bolt cutters. You still gotta put some muscle into it with those though so the sawzall would be better if you have access to one.

I found a small hatchet and went nuts. Exhausted, but I got everything planted... Probably looked crazy doing it but oh well.

fire

Abiqua said:

fire

Click to expand...

If a small hole can be drilled thermite will work

Sawzall's chainsaws will work but the blade/chain will be trash afterward

You can use epsom salts to dry out and decompose the roots. Salts draw up water and keep it from the roots.

The root system can still be alive after the tree is gone feeding itself and eventually growing another bush perhaps.

Drill some holes in the stump/roots you can see pour salt inside and all over ever exposed root you can see.

In a week-2 weeks time it will be dry and decomposing, very easy to dig up. You may have to re-apply salts if absorbed quickly.

BluJayz said:

You can use epsom salts to dry out and decompose the roots. Salts draw up water and keep it from the roots.

The root system can still be alive after the tree is gone feeding itself and eventually growing another bush perhaps.

Drill some holes in the stump/roots you can see pour salt inside and all over ever exposed root you can see.

In a week-2 weeks time it will be dry and decomposing, very easy to dig up. You may have to re-apply salts if absorbed quickly.

Click to expand...

I dont dought it will work but do you realy want to 'salt the earth'

they sell KNO3 as stump remover which will do the same thing + oxidise the roots to help them rot faster and burn eazer . Whithout harming the earth

http://www.amazon.com/Spectracide-66420-Remover-1-Pound-Granules/dp/B004GVYXKC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410565029&sr=8-1&keywords=stump+remover

and if it dosent work for what you need you can use it to make some awesome toilet paper tube smoke bombs. a little sugar mixed and and heated on stove while adding small amounts of water till it becomes a paste then pour into toilet paper tube, insert wick while still warm and let cool..

then if all else fails fkin HOA wont seem them trash cans when you light that fucker off

Ditch the salts & chemicals......Hand axe or pruning saw. Elbow grease as necessary.

BluJayz said:

You can use epsom salts to dry out and decompose the roots. Salts draw up water and keep it from the roots.

Click to expand...

Epsom salt isn't actually a salt at all. It's actually Magnesium Sulfate. Epsom salt will not dry or decompose the roots. Regular rock salt would be what you're talking about.

amfmclockradio said:

Epsom salt isn't actually a salt at all. It's actually Magnesium Sulfate. Epsom salt will not dry or decompose the roots. Regular rock salt would be what you're talking about.

Click to expand...

Thank you for correcting me, that is what I wanted to say! But apparently did not!