Diy block paving (the slow way!) - Tree roots

[ange jones]

HI

I am still at my block paving project I feel like I have been digging for years
I have dug out 2 trees today not sure what they were but they were like mini fir trees about 10ft high each of them
I have dug about 18 cm down and have removed the main roots and most of the surrounding roots but they just go on forever
If there are one or 2 of the left in the ground is there any chance of them damaging my paving??
I am laying a Sub Grade of crush and run (75mm) and also 40mm of Sand do you think I need to persevere until every last bit is out or would some Geo Fabric help

Thanks

[matt h]

unfortunately you need to kill off the roots or they will come back to haunt you. I would advise that your subbase should be 100mm unless there is no heavy traffic. With fir trees their roots tend to go out as far as the tree is tall to boot, and are fast growing, which doesnt exactly help you. Persevere if you want the peace of mind of a job well done;)

[ange jones]

Thanks for this Not the answer I wanted but I suspected this would be the case

The paving is for foot traffic only to and from the front door hence the 75mm
Although I think I have been a bit enthusiastic and have gone deeper than I needed to now

[Dave_L]

Are these big hefty roots Ange or just small stringy bits?

A photo would be a great help......

[dig dug dan]

unfortunately you need to kill off the roots or they will come back to haunt you

i will have to bring you to task on this one. If the trees were definately conifer, they will not grow back, and so therefore will not be any threat whatsoever!

[ange jones]

They were deffo conifers,
I have removed the bulk of the roots ie: the main base and most of the offshoots all that remains are the thinner root which go deep down.

Hopefully this is my last weekend of digging before I start to lay my sub grade so if my back isnt too broken I think I will just keep digging down and get the little ***gers out I would hate finish my lovely path and 6 months later it erupts with roots coming up through it
My neighbours are already taking bets as to whether I do a good job or not because I am a girl they keep saying "Are you sure you are up to this?" I just tell them about this fantastic website !!! Ha ha! So the pressure is on!



Thanks guys

[seanandruby]

Im sure you will be fine "girlie" just make sure you compact it well before and after sub base.

[Rich H]

As matt h says, conifers do not regrow. Don't worry about a few 'bootlaces' here and there. If we all kept digging deep into the subgrade to remove every tiny dead root fragment we'd never get anything done.